Names Have Been Changed

by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow

After ten years on the run around the world, Ophir—not her real name—comes clean in a confessional podcast about her life as a fugitive, charming countless fans even as she risks her freedom.

Ophir’s tale begins in Singapore, where a petty crime spins out of control, estranging her from home and family. Resorting to false identities and forged passports (being mixed-race helps), she crisscrosses the globe from a Paris-themed hostess bar in Tokyo, to a bustling Chinese restaurant in London, to a snowbound mountain town in Colorado and beyond.

Broadcasting from an undisclosed location, Ophir is funny, prickly, tough, and vulnerable, entrancing her listeners with an irresistible, no-holds-barred recounting of not only her crimes (plural) but also her deepest secrets and regrets. Even as she moves seamlessly across class lines and continents, she grapples with the shock of relentless dislocation, a painful reexamination of identity, and a deep yearning for home. She tries to find comfort in new lovers and ill-gotten luxury goods, but she can’t help attracting trouble, and she soon faces an unexpected, high-stakes choice that could change her fate forever.

Names Have Been Changed is a stylish, fast-paced debut novel that reveals the complicated paths we take to build a life and a home. Filled with danger and twists, it’s ultimately a story about immigration and belonging—one unlike any you’ve seen before.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Contemporary, Crime

Audible Audio

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

Yu-Mei Balasingamchow is the author of the novel, Names Have Been Changed, which will be published on June 23, 2026 by Tiny Reparations Books. Her short fiction has received a Pushcart Prize Special Mention, won the Mississippi Review Fiction Prize, and been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

Yu-Mei is also the co-author of Singapore: A Biography, editor of How We Live Now: Stories of Daily Living, and co-editor of In Transit: An Anthology from Singapore on Airports and Air Travel. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Boston University. Her writing has been supported by Ucross Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Elizabeth George Foundation, Sewanee Writers Conference, Ragdale Foundation and Vermont Studio Center, and in Singapore by the National Arts Council and Nanyang Technological University.

Originally from Singapore, Yu-Mei now lives in Boston. She is editor at Gaudy Boy, an independent press that brings literary works by authors of Asian heritage to an American audience, and teaches at GrubStreet.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems like more books are being written incorporating podcasts, and I think that’s a fun trend.
This entire book is a podcast where every chapter is an episode.
I read this on my Kindle, but because of the format I have a feeling that it would be better enjoyed as an audiobook.

Ophir (not her real name) ends up as an accomplice in a money laundering scheme.
Rather than be arrested in Singapore, she decides to flee.
I don’t travel nearly as much as I used to, and I loved how this book took me from Singapore, to Bangkok, to Tokyo, to London, and to Colorado.
There are a multitude of interesting characters in each place, so there are a lot of names to remember throughout the book.

Some crazy things happen in the middle of the book, but I suppose that if I were a fugitive with a fake passport in countries that I wasn’t familiar with, I’d also do whatever I had do to survive.

I devoured this entertaining debut novel in a day and a half and hope that it gets more buzz!

Pub date: June 23, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with this eARC to review!

[gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First five star read of the month!! I hate that I find it difficult to talk about books I love because this was such a beautiful novel on cultural ties, assimilation and figuring out where you belong all tied into this introspective podcast format of a fugitive telling her crimes and decade of survival on the run.

I read it via audiobook and it was so amazing, the narrator is easily one of my faves now.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25✨This podcast-based mystery thriller was both engaging and engrossing. From page one to the final chapter, our protagonist was completely unlikable, but I couldn't get enough of her! She broke all the rules (even when she wasn't trying to), yet for some reason, I was still rooting for her through every chapter of her confessional podcast as she broadcast through the COVID lockdown.

I went in completely blind with zero expectations, and this debut novel really blew me away. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and how each chapter was set as a podcast episode. I knew I'd find mystery within this book but was pleasantly surprised by a story about love and family and honor.

Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the advanced reader copy.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a very specific kind of chaos required to be on the run from the law and still think, you know what this situation needs, a podcast. Not a therapist. Not a lawyer. A microphone. And honestly, that level of delusion is exactly why I couldn’t look away.

Names Have Been Changed is Ophir, which is not her real name, sitting us down and saying, I have committed multiple crimes and made several questionable life choices, and you’re going to hear about all of them in excruciating emotional detail. What starts as a petty crime in Singapore spirals into a full international fugitive situation, and suddenly she’s bouncing across countries with fake passports, new identities, and the kind of stress that would give me hives within 48 hours.

And the format? It works. It really works, until it doesn’t. The whole story unfolds like a confessional podcast, each chapter an episode, and when it’s hitting, it feels like you’re eavesdropping on something a little too honest. She’s funny in that dry, slightly defensive way, like she’s preemptively arguing with your judgment. You get these sharp observations about class, identity, and survival, and then she’ll casually drop something deeply sad about her family and you’re like, oh, okay, I guess I’m having feelings now.

Ophir herself is not here to be likable, and I respect that. She’s prickly, impulsive, sometimes exhausting, and makes decisions that had me pausing like I could physically stop her through the page. But she’s also compelling in that way where you want to understand her even when you don’t agree with her. Watching her slip between identities, especially as someone mixed-race who can move through different spaces, is one of the most interesting parts of the book. It’s not just survival, it’s performance, and she’s constantly rewriting herself depending on who’s watching.

The emotional core sneaks up on you. This isn’t really a cat-and-mouse thriller, even though it pretends to be one at first. It’s about what happens when you leave home and then realize you can’t go back, not just physically, but emotionally. There’s this low-level ache running through everything, this sense that no matter where she lands, she’s just passing through. The people she meets, other outsiders, other people building lives out of scraps, start to feel like the closest thing she has to stability, and those moments hit harder than any of the crime elements.

But here’s where I started to lose my grip a little. The podcast style leans so hard into stream-of-consciousness that it occasionally forgets to be a story. It drifts. It loops. It introduces people and places like you should already know them, and I found myself backtracking more than once like, wait, who is this and why are we emotionally invested. The pacing gets slippery, especially in the middle, where it feels less like momentum and more like wandering.

Also, and I need this to be understood, this book is practically begging to be an audiobook. You can feel it in your bones. The voice, the rhythm, the confessional tone, it all wants to be heard. Reading it is good, but there’s a version of this that is great, and it lives in someone’s headphones at 1.5x speed while they stare at the ceiling contemplating their life.

The ending is not interested in giving you closure. It’s not tidy, it’s not particularly satisfying in a traditional sense, and it definitely does not hold your hand. But it feels right for Ophir, which is almost more frustrating because you can see exactly why it had to end that way. It’s one of those endings that makes you sit there for a second like, okay, I get it… I just don’t have to like it.

This is a solid 3.5 star read for me. It’s sharp, ambitious, and doing something genuinely interesting with voice and structure, even if it occasionally disappears into its own head. I wasn’t always enjoying the ride, but I was always aware of it, and sometimes that’s the more impressive trick.

Whodunity Award: For Convincing Me That Anyone With a Podcast Might Secretly Be on the Run

Huge thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for handing me this ARC and letting me spiral internationally without leaving my couch.

[Amy ☁️ (tinycl0ud) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative takes the form of a podcast transcript of a woman's tell-all after ten years of being on the run from the Singapore police. She's terrified of them and of going jail but that part was a little ??? because girl, you obviously escaped them no problem on your first try and managed to stay un-caught for a decade so either the SG police isn't that good or you're a natural-born fugitive, have a little more confidence in your abilities!! Anyway, this all started because our unnamed narrator, alias Ophir, got roped into a money laundering scam by her friend. When it went bust, she skipped town and changed her name and passport with every new location. Pitbull needs to step aside because we have a new Mr Worldwide. Her story hurts at times, especially when she's homesick or regretting how a relationship ended, and I found myself rooting for her eventual happiness. I won't spoil the story because it's the finding out that's most enjoyable. I also liked that there are queer characters everywhere in this book.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the descriptions of Singapore and there were some suspenseful parts! I would’ve loved to hear all the languages and accents the main character did, which makes me think this would’ve been better as an audiobook. The main character was not my cup of tea and I didn’t like most of her decisions but it was a unique story and makes me want to read more books about fugitives and fake passports!

[Jen Perlis-Glassman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This book is so well written, creative, dark, and cold... and I really enjoyed it
The main character is very unlikable and it's not her fault. Life has caused some hiccups for her and from birth, it seems she is in the wrong place and the wrong time... and then escapes!!! The book is her running for a decade and her experiences are wild and crazy.... and I could not put this down.
As strange as her life is, each one is wrapped up as an adventure.
It is a worthwhile read.

[Christine (Queen of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for something a little different? NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED is written as a confessional podcast, in which a Singaporean woman who's changed her identity (many times) tells her story of being on the run.

This one had a little bit of everything, anchored by an engaging, multi-dimensional main character. The audiobook is narrated by Mirai and was a great choice, given that the book is written as if Ophir (not her real name) is speaking to the reader. Mirai really helped bring the story alive for me.

Thank you to PRH Audio for a free audio copy of this title.

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Names Have Been Changed was not the story I expected and I'm still unsure as a whole how I feel about the story I thought I was going to get versus the way this story unfolded. The premise seemed gripping, a woman on the run after getting caught up in a money laundering scheme, trying to come to terms with the difficult decisions she had to make, feeling lost without a place to belong in the world, and deeply missing the culture of Singapore. I expected the story to be fast-paced, tense, and thrilling, which it was at certain moments, yet for the majority of this story we're just following along as Ophir recounts stories from her time in hiding through a podcast during the COVID shutdown and for the most part they came across rather mundane.

The strongest parts of the narrative for me were the stories Ophir shares of her family and the moments she feels a deep longing for home even though home certainly isn't perfect to her. There are these little pockets of longing for a place she thinks she can never go back to and having to come to terms with the fact memories are the closest she's going to get. This book is presented in the format of a podcast, so I'm not sure this lends as well to a written format and would be interested to know if the audiobook would provide a better experience. The tone of the writing is very matter of fact, holding little back as Ophir tells the brutally honest truth about what she has been up to which ends up reading as very raw and realistic.

I think a lot of people can relate to feeling out of place or being in a situation where they can't go back home or feel caught between two places. There were some really beautiful observations on culture, identity, and isolation. At times the narrative gets a little too bogged down by details and seems to ramble where I wanted it to pick up the pace and was hoping for more excitement or tension. I wanted to feel how high stakes Ophir's situation was but the story fell a little short in communicating how dangerous her situation was with a few exceptions.

If you like introspective novels with brutally honest narrators, have ever felt like it's hard to find your place in the world, or love to follow other people's stories on the internet I think you'll find something you like in Names Have Been Changed. For fans of Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg and Shanghailanders by Juli Min.

[madwhimsyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love LOVED this!!!! Thank you SO MUCH Penguin Randomhouse for an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

This book so perfectly sums up that feeling of longing for home through language. As our protagonist Ophir flees from place to place, changing accents and stories as she goes, the reader is invited to think about the micro dialects of our own spaces of belonging, and to imagine how horrifying and dispossessing it would feel to never get access to that place again. NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED is language within language. Ophirs Singaporean identity. Her family and ancestry. Her queer identity. I’ve always known it to be true, but this book did a great job of showing how the languages of our identities are portals into different worlds, ones that as a con artist, Ophir can enter and leave at will.

I couldn’t put this book down because it’s so ripe with PLACE. In a writing class, I once asked how to write travel narrative without it sounding like “then I went here/then I went here” and after reading this novel I see that the answer is lush description and astute observations about what makes a place a place. I felt like I was there with Ophir on her journeys. As I kept going I even started asking myself: “what will happen to us next?”

I’m certain there will be a lot of discussions about Ophir and her choices once this book comes out. Her motivation, to me at least, is clear, but I can see how people could get frustrated with her until the very end (which nope is not what you’re guessing!). Although trauma isn’t explicitly mentioned, Ophir is extremely guided by experiences and narratives she developed in childhood. This is another book I’d recommend for complex trauma folks btw!

An engaging travel narrative. A queer protagonist. Thoughtful reflections on immigration, belonging, language, and relationship.

You know it’s a good novel when I want MORE.

I want MORE episodes of Ophir. I’m so invested in what happens next.

[tati ୨୧ mendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

౨ৎ 4 stars ౨ৎ

thank you to netgalley for the e arc and tiny rep books for the physical copy 💌

this book was so good and i genuinely could not put it down ♡ every chapter being an episode from her podcast was such a fun format and kept me completely entertained the whole time.

honestly i would recommend experiencing this one on audio because i think the podcast style and all of the singaporean words would come across even better that way ✨

i really loved the writing and the overall concept, and i was invested from beginning to end. the only reason this wasn’t a higher rating for me was the ending. i was a little disappointed by the cliffhanger and would have loved a final chapter showing where she ended up years later instead.

overall such an addictive and unique read ♡📖

[Rem Tolentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Indonesian, there is a term called merantau, which refers to the state of leaving one’s place of origin to seek opportunity elsewhere - often with the expectation of return, but without the guarantee of belonging. Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow explores this idea of merantau alongside themes of migration, diaspora, and identity, all woven into a globe-trotting narrative. Crucially, the novel interrogates what happens when merantau becomes permanent; when leaving transforms from a temporary condition into a defining state of displacement.

This book shares several similarities with Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can, beginning with its premise. The novel’s protagonist, Ophir (one of her many aliases), becomes involved in a money-laundering scheme and faces prison time in her native Singapore. Before she can be apprehended and sentenced, she flees the country, setting off a chain of events centered on her life as a fugitive. While Catch Me If You Can is more action-driven - with the constant tension of Leonardo DiCaprio being pursued by Tom Hanks’s character - Names Have Been Changed turns inward. The novel focuses on Ophir’s emotional landscape: her regrets, fractured sense of identity, and longing for home and connection become the primary sources of conflict.

Ophir is a complex and compelling character. Through Balasingamchow’s stylistic choice of framing the narrative as retrospective podcast recordings, readers are invited to both observe and analyze her inner psyche as she drifts across the world - from working as a bargirl in Japan to backpacking in Peru, from laboring in a Chinese restaurant in London to serving as a caregiver in Denver. As Ophir develops, she gradually learns to trust others and build her own network of support. From the Golden Pearl restaurant owner, to a politically exiled doctor in London, to a cybersecurity expert in Denver, and finally to her brother - her lifelong confidant - these characters illustrate a central idea: home is not a place, but a people. Many of these individuals are themselves outsiders (ethnic minorities or queer) and their presence reinforces the novel’s message that even in a precarious and distrustful world, genuine kindness persists.

I especially appreciated the emotional depth Balasingamchow brings to her characters. Ophir is vibrant and easy to root for, and the supporting cast is equally well-developed. Each character carries distinct struggles: a high-society Singaporean rebelling against expectations by becoming a bargirl; a childhood friend navigating the tensions of marriage and sexuality; a daughter grappling with how best to care for her ailing mother. These narratives function as case studies in identity, expectation, and human connection. The maturity of these portrayals is particularly impressive given that this is Balasingamchow’s debut novel.

The prose, however, takes some time getting used to (trust me, power through that first chapter!) Each chapter reads like a full podcast transcript, often featuring extended passages of stream-of-consciousness narration that may not appeal to all readers. While I found this stylistic choice original and thematically appropriate, it can initially make the plot hard to follow. That said, the approach ultimately succeeds in capturing the way people naturally recount their lives: fragmented, reflective, and nonlinear.

Although Names Have Been Changed spans numerous countries and settings, it ultimately centers on the emotional consequences of merantau. Traditionally, merantau implies leaving with the possibility of return, but Ophir’s journey disrupts this - her exile is forced, and return is no longer viable. In this way, her experience begins to resemble hiraeth, a longing for a home that is no longer accessible or no longer exists as it once did.

The novel suggests these ideas exist on a continuum: what begins as movement (merantau) becomes longing (hiraeth). Ophir does not just miss Singapore, but a version of it (and of herself) that has been irreversibly changed. As a result, home becomes less a place and more something shaped by memory, identity, and the people she carries with her.

Thank you Dutton for providing this advanced review copy for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting yet thought-provoking novel in the vein of Catch Me If You Can, Names Have Been Changed took that action-packed movie and gave it an introspective turn. Focusing more on the internal feelings of our complex, unlikeable, and oh so very unreliable narrator, the globe-hopping account of this morally gray anti-heroine was a truly unforgettable read. You see, the entire book was written in a retrospective podcast-based format as she confessed her exploits while running from the authorities after committing crime after crime. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t really a thriller at heart. More literary fiction with a suspense-slash-crime fiction vibe, the edge-of-your-seat feel and waiting-to-be-solved mystery were both mostly missing for me. Instead, it was a powerful critique of culture, identity, migration, belonging, and the true cost of freedom—all of which made it into a perfect book club selection.

So I’m sure you’re asking what made me fall for this debut novel considering how different it was from what I was expecting. Thanks to cliffhanger chapters, emotional depth, and plenty of secrets, my mind churned away as I followed this memorable character all over the world. A cat-and-mouse fugitive story that leaned more on the fears, hopes, and regrets of the unlikeable yet root-for-able narrator, it was everything I love about literary fiction. After all, this original queer coming-of-age story mixed flawlessly with a provocative—and evocative—tale of immigration. Perfect for fans of Jean Kwok or Laila Lalami, I highly recommend this stunning new novel. After all, despite the fact that it was somewhat slower than I was expecting, the revelation that home is who you surround yourself with and not a specific place hit me hard. Bravo, Ms. Balasingamchow, it was an utter home run. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Ophir’s tale begins in Singapore, where a petty crime spins out of control, estranging her from home and family. Resorting to false identities and forged passports (being mixed-race helps), she crisscrosses the globe from a Paris-themed hostess bar in Tokyo, to a bustling Chinese restaurant in London, to a snowbound mountain town in Colorado and beyond.

Broadcasting from an undisclosed location, Ophir is funny, prickly, tough, and vulnerable, entrancing her listeners with an irresistible, no-holds-barred recounting of not only her crimes (plural) but also her deepest secrets and regrets. Even as she moves seamlessly across class lines and continents, she grapples with the shock of relentless dislocation, a painful reexamination of identity, and a deep yearning for home. She tries to find comfort in new lovers and ill-gotten luxury goods, but she can’t help attracting trouble, and she soon faces an unexpected, high-stakes choice that could change her fate forever.

Thank you Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, Tiny Reparations Books, and Dutton Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 23, 2026

Content warning: murder, death, homophobia, grief, gaslighting, racism, sexual content

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I weren't who I am, I would probably only give this 4 stars as a book. But, like Yu-Mei, I am what we call an "expat Singaporean" - in fact I met her once because of this shared identity - and this was very much in my wheelhouse, a love letter to a Singapore that lives in our hearts, even if it doesn't exist in reality. Of course, she (presumably) and I aren't like Ophir, the pseudonymic narrator of this book - we can go home whenever we want.

The Singaporean notes are extremely authentic. The thing about # "hex", which comes up several times - I myself had such an interaction when I tried to give my Singapore address to a bank when I first signed up for an account in the US. The bank employee looked like I was trying to hex her. The one note that didn't ring true for me was extremely small and maybe it was just my memory - I don't remember the original Parent Trap being on TV all the time when I was a kid!! (And that was back when we only had 3-5 channels, so it was hard to miss stuff. But maybe I just wasn't watching at the right hours.) My Malay is practically non-existent, so I had to Google Translate a lot of it, but what I did understand checks out. Ditto with the Hokkien (I do know the swear words though!).

Overall it's difficult to categorise this book. I guess I would say "crime fiction" or "contemporary fiction". I don't think it quite gets to the level of a thriller. There's no sense of a cat-and-mouse chase really, no one is doggedly trying to catch Ophir since she was just a low-level money mule. As she says, if she'd just stayed and accepted her punishment, I can't imagine it would have been more than 2-4 years and she would have been free. Most of the drama comes from her own personality and the dangerous situations she puts herself in.

Did I like the ending? Well, not a huge amount - my happy place in fiction is more traditional mysteries, where justice tends to prevail - but it did feel entirely authentic to the character of Ophir.

So - 5* if you're like me.
----
ETA: I am EXTREMELY curious as to whether they'll be able to pull off an audiobook version of this. It's begging for an audiobook since it's just a podcast transcript. It has to be a Singaporean reading it for sure.

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

“My friend Tina says there are newer versions [of the Singaporean passport] now, with more high-tech wizardry. I haven’t seen one, I wouldn’t know. I sold mine in Bangkok for three thousand dollars and a discount on a forged Hong Kong passport.”

So begins Yu-Mei Balasingamchow’s incredible debut NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED, which introduces one of the most unique and memorable protagonists I have read this year. This story of a Singaporean woman who is on the run for being wanted for a crime that she was inadvertently mixed up with is a wild premise that is somehow tempered into an engaging exploration of homesickness, belonging, identity, and family.

The premise gives Catch Me If You Can vibes, but I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller. “Ophir” (not her real name, just the nickname she’s chosen) herself says that she is not trying to give a play-by-play of all her global (mis)adventures. Framed as podcast episodes, Ophir’s narration is pulpy, conversational, and propulsive. There are some big, shocking events that are built up well, yes. However, I’d say that the main thing the story focuses on is that ineffable longing for home—both how that longing sustains and drives us, and yet misleads us at times into believing that’s what we want, what will solve all our problems.

Ophir’s longing for Singapore portrays the small city-country in all its multiplicities and contradictions. It’s a heady blend of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and classes. That combination produces a wide range of people, each with their own desires, values, and imperfections. Although Ophir spends very little time in the book actually in Singapore itself, her continued encounters with Singaporeans all over the world form the core of the story. Is Ophir actually longing for her physical home, or home in the company of other Singaporeans? What if the reality of one’s home or community doesn’t live up to the ideals in our memories or imagination?

The story moves along at a fairly quick pace, despite its introspective moments, thanks to the careful use of foreshadowing and cliffhanger chapter endings. All of this leads to a wild ending that will keep you guessing until the very last page, and continue thinking about Ophir’s decisions long after it’s ended.

NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED develops an exceptionally memorable narratorial voice, and a story that straddles the boundaries of multiple genres. I was super impressed and engrossed. Recommended for lovers of character-driven stories, (more) propulsive writing, and themes of home and belonging!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn’t turn out exactly how I expected – it’s far less intense than most books tagged as thrillers and mysteries, and I almost feel like contemporary fiction or literary fiction is really where this book belongs. There’s never a mystery to solve, and while a lot of things happen, the nature of them being told in a podcast retrospectively means you never really feel like you’re sitting on the edge of your seat worrying about what will happen next.

However, I attribute this to the fact I was reading this on Kindle. This book is absolutely meant for audiobook, since it’s written with each chapter as an episode, and I probably would’ve felt more tension from the inflections in the narrarator’s voice, the pauses in the right moments, things like this. Since I am not from Singapore, it was hard for me while reading to really grasp some of the things she said about how words were pronounced, how she was saying a quote “in someone’s voice”, things like this.

That said, I did enjoy reading this book and I actually think I enjoyed it more than I expected. What worked for me in this book is how much we get to see and learn about so many different cultures. I think this is why I personally wouldn’t classify this book as a thriller at all. The interpersonal relationships, the longing for home, the tales of blending in to new cultures, stories about her family, the deep self-hatred the narrator has because she blames herself for her mother’s death… these are the parts of the book that really shine.

If you’re going into this book expecting a fast paced thriller or a twisty mystery, you will be disappointed. But if you prefer something more introspective and more of a character study, definitely pick this one up. And while I didn’t listen to the audiobook, I wish I had since this book is truly meant for it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC!

[Tim Kropp · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating is based on my enjoyment of the audiobook, not whether it was a 'good' book, if that makes sense. The things that make it unenjoyable, however, make it a really interesting yet frustrating book. It's well written, but the main character has near-zero redeeming qualities and that makes it difficult to enjoy. She's fun but simply an amoral person. In this way, it's a great character study. She's completely selfish and although she admits it in a fake haha sort of way, she doesn't internalize it or do anything different. So she's aware deeply but ultimately rejects it. She sees successive amoral actions as her victimhood as if she has no choice but to make the wrong one. In that sense I hear an extreme version of some people I know and that was really interesting to see the perspective/rationalization. The fact that the kind Lisa character doesn't find Ophir repellant, or at least disappointing, isn't believable. Any book that makes me think something new is pretty good; but not enjoyable.

One issue with the writing of the book is that you think you're getting a plot-driven book and in the beginning you are. But over time it becomes 95% character driven. When your character isn't evolving in a character driven book, it's gonna drag, as this one does in the last 4 chapters or so. I don't thing the 3 next-to-last chapters are doing anything, actually. Except to watch a character going through a lot of thoughts only to end up in the exact same place.

Lastly, is there any reason the main character is constantly bring up sex, and in the crudest ways? Seemed odd, so either the character or the author has some hangups. Maybe it's supposed to say something about her character (that she can only see the physical side of sex?), or that she has few choices towards real enjoyment or connection so this is what she's left with? Seemed jarring and took me out of the story.

[the society of inkdrinkers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story Highlights
The main character, Ophir, is telling you her story after leaving her life in Singapore to avoid imprisonment. She was a money mule, and her best friend went to prison. She travels all over Asia and even to the US as she works menial jobs. She struggles with loneliness and a homesickness for Singapore and her family.

Why you need to read it
Ophir is quite blunt, straight to the point, and holds nothing back but names. Readers will appreciate a character that feels real with a story that keeps you on edge the entire time.

What I liked
This novel is a livestream podcast format that will be great in audiobook form. Ophir’s story unfolds in several episodes that show how a life on the run would wear a person down, make them feel isolated, and keep them from forming meaningful relationships.

It’s all in the details
The details about Singapore’s culture and language were interesting and meaningful to the storyline. The threat of imprisonment overwhelms Ophir to abandon her family and homeland. Ophir explains nuances and prejudices about Asian mixed races while exploring immigration from her perspective.

What kept me reading
Ophir is confessing her actions in real time for the novel, and I never knew where the story was going. It felt like a real conversation where the person reveals too much or says the wrong thing but can’t take it back. She’s brutally honest, vulgar at times, and does not mince words.

Final musings
I highly recommend readers check out the audiobook format.
I’m interested in re-reading the audiobook, it would give an intimate feel for Ophir’s story and how it unfolded in her travels.

Thank you Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, Dutton, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[KappaBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the publishers. All opinions are my own.
Names Have Been Changed is a literary fiction novel following Ophir, not her real name, as she recounts the past ten years of her life. Starting a podcast to deal with the loneliness of COVID lockdown, she breaks down the past ten years, the crime she committed at the start and the subsequent events as she ran from punishment.
My first comment: please focus on the summary and not the GoodReads tags. This is not a mystery/thriller. This is literary fiction. I was invested to see what the ending of the book would be, if there would be consequences to these crimes being admitted on a podcast, but it’s not a thriller like you might expect from a commercial thriller. I was not on the edge of my seat nor was there a mystery to solve.
This was an enjoyable story, told as the podcast transcripts as Ophir tells her story. As such, it is rather stream of conscious, which isn’t always my favorite. It never got too hard to follow, which is my usual complaint with stream of consciousness. I do think this would make a good book club choice. As this story is being fully narrated by Ophir, the only deeper insight we get into her is through reading between the lines, which could make for good discussion.
And because I haven’t seen many other people reference this, I do want to mention this book is very casually queer. Far more time is spent on Ophir’s identity as a multi-racial, immigrant woman rather than as a queer woman, but it’s certainly present throughout. Several of the side characters are also queer.
I rated this book 3.25 stars! I might have enjoyed this more as an audiobook, but I think the stream of consciousness was not for me.

[Anna W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ophir (name has been changed) is a fugitive from her home country of Singapore after a series of poor decision making leads her into a crime ring she's convinced she isn't a part of. She has been away from her home for a decade but when she is locked in her home because of covid and discovers her father has died while she's been on the run, she decides she needs to tell her story. This novel is written in the format of 9 podcast episodes from her point of view, telling her story.

This was a fun format and would have probably been one that would have been good to listen to on audiobook. IIt was interesting to read Ophir's perspective as she acknowledges her mistakes and regrets, questioning whether her choices were worth it, how it is possible to have real friends when she can't reveal her true self, and her deep heartache for her homeland and family.

Even with the compelling concepts, I don't feel the characters or story really took a hard enough look at them. Ophir was flighty and indecisive, regretful and obstinate. At the end of the decade, even faced directly with the consequences of her actions, she doesn't resolve into acceptance or repentance and I don't think the journey or ending really held enough meat for me to rate this any higher.

If you are into non-violent true crime mixed in with some amazing depictions of Singapore, being Singaporean, or the evocation of what it means to yearn for a home or family you can no longer have, this was a solid choice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tiny Reparations Books, and Yu-Mei Balasingamchow for the advanced ebook copy.

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for the ARC.

A woman who calls herself Ophir starts a tell all podcast. She’s a fugitive from Singapore. Her crime is pretty petty compared to many others, but by running away, it means she has nowhere to truly call home, and no place she can truly feel safe.

More and more books are incorporating the podcast format and im here for it. It’s very straightforward, with Ophir detailing her crime, her life on the run, the people she meets along the way, and all the situations she encounters while on the run. I definitely have learned a lot about Singapore just from reading this book. Oh, and about life on the run.

While straightforward, the chapters are pretty long. A lot of time is spent rehashing and retelling the past, and while it works, it does tend to get caught up on some events and it gets very detailed. Character wise, I didn’t find Ophir likable or dislikable. I cannot relate, but she was interesting. Her choices are questionable from the get go, and while there is some self reflection, it does leave me wondering, has she changed? In some ways I say yes, but is it enough?

The ending said it best: she never apologized. Never really said sorry. Although some might see her crimes as petty, there are always victims and it feels like she has never acknowledged that.

I did enjoy the different locations this book takes readers to, and all the nuances you find in different cultures. Seeing her adapt and change was also fun, but that’s only something I realize after finishing the book.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Names Have Been Changed by Yu-mei Balasingchow, this is a book about someone who lived their life on base instinct she wanted easy money but something happened where the girl that got her the easy money got arrested but she went on the lamb. each chapter in the book is a part of her life on the run written in podcast form. in the beginning I was hoping there was some sort of redemption but the whole thing when she was in London let me know that redemption wasn’t on the menu. I mean take note the first girl she ghosted who helped her out was her childhood best friend who was about to be married. I did not like her character I did not like the choices she made I didn’t feel sorry for her when you live like you’re the only one that matters that’s who you’ll be left with just you. unless you can convince others of the greatness that you see in yourself no one‘s gonna stick around to watch you make bad choices and then leave them holding the bag. I just had no respect for her and when I have no one to root for or an outcome to hope for I don’t find that a great reading experience. some people are bad but likable in someway but she was not at all likable. Absolutely do not recommend this book so if you read it and don’t like it that’s on you if you read it and do like it again your decision. After just coming off reading“rules for aging and larceny“ which was such a phenomenal book I love the book so much I wish I would’ve read something else just as great or even kinda OK but this book absolutely to me was horrible. #Netgalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An on-the-run Singaporean criminal starts a tell-all podcast during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, taking the pseudonym “Ophir” and assisted by her partner and possibly lover, “Tina”. This is a fast-paced, Catch Me If You Can-esque thriller where it behooves the reader to remember that this is just one POV of the unfolding action. Ophir is as compelling as she is unreliable, and the way the story unfolds feels voyeuristic in the way that many podcasts and social media presences do. The only reliable part of her is her queerness and her unfiltered explanations of language, which I really appreciated.

This was an interesting read for me as I’ve either lived or visited most of the places that Ophir lives and transits through. Her origins in Singapore are familiar to me, and I could easily see how she would fall into the initial money laundering scheme that set her on the run. Her transits through Tokyo, to London, and to Colorado were a delight, and I was particularly swept up in the drama of her time working at the Chinese restaurant in London. I got the sense that the author was drawing from a lot of personal experience and expertly embellishing fact with fiction, which is also part of what made the movie of Catch Me so successful.

After getting to Colorado, however, I feel like the pace as well as the dynamic tone of the narrative stalled. The story became more sentimental, and the COVID lockdown premise became apparent in a way that I felt was very navel-gazing. I didn’t like the penultimate twist and feel like action in this section played out too conveniently, both with how “Ophir” deals with her grief and the pointed question that is posed directly to her. I think this would work more for others, but it’s not what I needed to get to the conclusion of Ophir’s story. Based on this, I would recommend this to folks who want a solid and complex queer protagonist and to those who enjoy thrillers where the criminal is the protagonist.

[Brooke | bookswithbabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Tiny Reparations Books for the advanced reading copy & PRH Audio for the #gifted listening copy!

This had all the makings of a fantastic read, but left me feeling ultimately unsatisfied. The overall premise was great, including a fugitive worth rooting for and all sorts of wild situations that she gets herself into. However, from the very beginning it felt like our main character was playing at taking accountability, vs actually doing it. What I think was supposed to feel self-deprecating or shameful felt more like she was complaining about her situation, then tacking on "I can't believe I got myself into this" as a half-assed attempt at taking accountability.

What I did love, however, was the audiobook! This book is full of Asian culture, especially Singaporean, and the way these were featured in the text then translated into the audiobook was fantastic. This book is in podcast format and while it reads like any other audiobook, it was great to hear the different accents, inflection and intonation that was being talked about throughout the story. This part gets 5/5 from me.

All in all, this was a bit disappointing. I won't do any spoilers, but I will say that I was hoping for one ending and got a different one. I was fully invested in and entertained by this book, but I felt that the ending dragged a bit and left me wanting more.

[Kenyah The Cultivated Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good podcast thriller, and this one did not disappoint! It is narrated by a Singaporean ex-con who has been on the run for 10 years. Ophir (one of her aliases) tells all about the challenges and shenanigans she faced during her escapades, changing the names of all involved and keeping some secrets for herself until the very end. However, amidst all the crazy scenarios, what stood out most was her reflections on identity. This book reads like a love letter to Singapore with its descriptions of Ophir's home country's ethnic diversity and language. There are moments when the main character uses a phrase she admits only Singaporeans can understand. There are Malay phrases that are translated loosely to preserve that insider experience. I really value this representation and the author's choice to tailor her writing to a Singaporean audience. Ophir reflects on what home means and how her identity has changed as she experiences nostalgia while traveling around the world. She acknowledges her poor choices and the impact she has on others, even if imperfectly. Names Have Been Changed was a page-turner, and I enjoyed reading it, but the only thing I wish is that I had experienced it as audio the first time around. I will surely be listening to the audiobook soon to get the full experience of the language and the main character's accents. If you liked Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera or other woman-led podcast thrillers, check this one out!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from publisher and NetGalley.

At first, it was unbelievable to me that Ophir was publicly recounting her crimes from the past ten years while she was still a fugitive! Was she careless or brave? After a couple of episodes, though, I started to see her motivation: the public platform gives Ophir a sense of freedom. She could connect with others and be her real self (while staying tight-lipped about certain details or risk being arrested, of course).

As a reader/listener, the confessional podcast format adds to the tension and excitement of discovering someone’s deepest secrets.

Each episode of the novel is fast-paced and takes Ophir to a different location: from Singapore to Bangkok to Tokyo, then from Geneva to London, and finally to Boulder, Colorado. In each new location, she uses a different name. For instance, she adopts the name Amélie while working as a hostess at a Paris-themed bistro in Tokyo. It delighted my Francophile heart!

Overall, I enjoyed this globetrotting thriller, particularly its podcast format, language lessons, and an unexpected but satisfying ending.

I’d recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about multicultural characters, mystery, crime drama, travel, languages, and family relationships. I’d also suggest getting the audiobook (or e-book and setting it to “read aloud” as I did) to recreate the podcast experience.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have to make choices but when they go awry, what do you do? In this debut book written as if being told in a podcast, the author tells a story of choice making and its consequences.

The narrator of this novel, Ophir ( not her real name), at one point that she thought “coming clean” would make her feel better but she’s not so sure as she works through a podcast to describe her life on the run after a petty crime in Singapore goes wrong. She’s vowed to tell the truth though of her “tumultuous” life as a fugitive over the past ten plus years. In doing this we are transported from Singapore to Thailand to Tokyo to London and to Colorado. But eventually Ophir’s loneliness could jeopardize her freedom.

This is an immigrant story in a way. As we follow Ophir seamlessly moving across countries - as she’s at the beginning the Singapore passport gets you into 190 countries without needing a visa - she experiences the sorrow of dislocation and a year I g for home. While seeking freedom, Ophir may have chosen prison.

Ophir is a morally grey character. She’s more of an anti-hero and in her complicated mess of a life, she’s spoiled but sympathetic. She’s that character you may dislike but someone you are attracted to. Her story for sure is not ordinary.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Dutton for allowing me access to this AEC.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, what a debut. Names Have Been Changed is one of those books that grabs you by the neck from page one and doesn't let go.
Ophir is the kind of character you don't forget. She's sharp, she's messy, she's running, and somehow through all of it you are rooting for her. The story is told through a podcast she's recording .. whilst on the run, which gives the whole thing this intimate, confessional energy. Think Gossip Girl, but well.. as a confessional. I enjoyed the concept of someone narrating their story to you, which I also appreciate with Amina Al-Sirafi.
This book is half thriller and half character study, Balasingamchow balances both with impressive control for a debut. The plot moves fast across Singapore, Tokyo, Switzerland, and London, and just when you think you have a grip on Ophir and her version or truth of events, the story shifts. The unreliable narrator element is done so well that you'll find yourself going back and questioning everything she's told you.
If you love stories about women on the run, morally complex protagonists, and twists that feel genuinely earned, add this to your list immediately. I am already suspicious of everything Ophir told me and I loved every second of it.
A huge thank you to Yu-Mei Balasingamchow and Dutton | Tiny Reparations Books for this one. Ophir is going to live in my head rent-free for a long time.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story here is interesting and has a lot going for it. It's the monologue-style narration that didn't work for me. You definitely have to be up for the novel's This-is-a-livestreamed-podcast device, for me it pulled me out of the story every time it came to the forefront.

Ophir's story starts with a crime of youthful stupidity, but has the misfortune of committing that crime in Singapore, which is notoriously severe with its criminal prosecutions. After this we follow her to several countries as she lives off the grid under false identities, scraping by. These stories can feel a little slow (Ophir's narration can definitely ramble) but ultimately each of them has something real to offer.

I wanted this to be tightened up. The monologue-style narrative does the material a disservice, I think, with long stretches where the pacing gets very slow. Even though the live-podcast of it adds its own levels to the story, I also kept struggling with my suspension of disbelief over why Ophir would do this at all, given how easy it would be for people to identify her no matter how hard she tries to make her story anonymous. The struggles about what to do now also felt odd to me, I couldn't understand why Ophir struggled so much with this choice when it seemed to be the best one available.

But there's definitely potential here and I would love to see more from Balasingamchow.