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The Name Game
10 hours
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?
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?
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First published April 7, 2026
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About the author
Beth O'Leary
18 books16.9k followersBeth 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).
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 853 reviews
April 18, 2026
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ When an opportunity to take a job as manager of a farm shop on the Isle of Ormer lands in her lap, Charlie is ecstatic. She is in need of a fresh start, and this sounds like the perfect place to do so.
After a difficult breakup, Jones wants to get away from city life and find some peace and stay sober. So when a job in Ormer shows up, he is more than happy to move to the remote isle.
But when Charlie and Jones arrive at the farm, they find out that they have the same name! Obviously, one of them has to be lying…right? And only one of them can take the role of manager of the farm. So who is it going to be? Charlie Jones or Charlie Jones?
──── ୨୧ ────
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ TL;DR: Left me disappointed, confused, and unsure of what is real anymore. 😂
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ Well…that was…disappointing.
You know, I haven’t read many books that are in a diary and email format, but I tend to enjoy them and, for the most part, I enjoyed it in this book. I did, however, find it hard to read Charlie’s journal entries because of her lack of using “I”. Instead of saying, “I am waiting for so and so,” it was, “Am waiting for so and so.” It was kinda confusing. But I get it because it’s a journal and that’s an intimate and informal way of jotting down what’s going on in your life, so I just ignored my lack of adapting-while-reading skills and continued on my merry way.
Except, it wasn’t so merry.
I was bored for a good portion of the story. It’s a small island or whatever, I know, so not much happens or is supposed to happen, hence why Charlie and Jones wanted to move there in the first place, but there are ways of making the mundane charming and fun. I appreciated how the people of Ormer were charming, but it all felt stifled, I think, because we only got to see the island through Charlie and Jones’s eyes, which itself was limited since they were sharing their experience through emails and entries, not like a story where you go into more detail and try to paint a picture of what and who you are surrounded by.
But then we get to the 75% mark, where things take a turn in both the story and my feelings for the book.
I cannot tell you how completely and utterly confused I was. I was literally laughing like a madwoman while I tried to piece together what the hell was going on. My poor brain can’t handle this kind of bafflement. 😭 I literally felt myself going cross-eyed. You know, I’ve never read that kind of plot twist before, so kudos to Beth O’Leary for pulling a fast one on me because damn–I did not see that one coming, that’s for sure.
Let’s do a quick round of what other aspects of the story fell flat for me: the romance was meh, the main characters were kinda boring and I didn’t really care for them, the plot was unique but could have been executed better probably, and the ending was affected by aforementioned components and, therefore, wasn’t poignant or heartwarming as much as I wanted it to be.
But there were times in the story that made me smile, and I liked how it talked about grief, anxiety, and fear, and how people deal with them differently. And the people pleasing–totally can relate to that. 🫣
Overall, I’m just sad that I didn’t love this. I was so excited to read my first Beth O’Leary book, but oh well. We can’t love them all. I’m going to go cry now. 😂😭
✿ Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ✿
❗Content Warnings❗’
Death of loved ones, alcoholism, and mentions homophobia.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only heated kissing. (🌶.5/5)
After a difficult breakup, Jones wants to get away from city life and find some peace and stay sober. So when a job in Ormer shows up, he is more than happy to move to the remote isle.
But when Charlie and Jones arrive at the farm, they find out that they have the same name! Obviously, one of them has to be lying…right? And only one of them can take the role of manager of the farm. So who is it going to be? Charlie Jones or Charlie Jones?
──── ୨୧ ────
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ TL;DR: Left me disappointed, confused, and unsure of what is real anymore. 😂
⋆𖦹⋆ˎˊ˗ Well…that was…disappointing.
You know, I haven’t read many books that are in a diary and email format, but I tend to enjoy them and, for the most part, I enjoyed it in this book. I did, however, find it hard to read Charlie’s journal entries because of her lack of using “I”. Instead of saying, “I am waiting for so and so,” it was, “Am waiting for so and so.” It was kinda confusing. But I get it because it’s a journal and that’s an intimate and informal way of jotting down what’s going on in your life, so I just ignored my lack of adapting-while-reading skills and continued on my merry way.
Except, it wasn’t so merry.
I was bored for a good portion of the story. It’s a small island or whatever, I know, so not much happens or is supposed to happen, hence why Charlie and Jones wanted to move there in the first place, but there are ways of making the mundane charming and fun. I appreciated how the people of Ormer were charming, but it all felt stifled, I think, because we only got to see the island through Charlie and Jones’s eyes, which itself was limited since they were sharing their experience through emails and entries, not like a story where you go into more detail and try to paint a picture of what and who you are surrounded by.
But then we get to the 75% mark, where things take a turn in both the story and my feelings for the book.
I cannot tell you how completely and utterly confused I was. I was literally laughing like a madwoman while I tried to piece together what the hell was going on. My poor brain can’t handle this kind of bafflement. 😭 I literally felt myself going cross-eyed. You know, I’ve never read that kind of plot twist before, so kudos to Beth O’Leary for pulling a fast one on me because damn–I did not see that one coming, that’s for sure.
Let’s do a quick round of what other aspects of the story fell flat for me: the romance was meh, the main characters were kinda boring and I didn’t really care for them, the plot was unique but could have been executed better probably, and the ending was affected by aforementioned components and, therefore, wasn’t poignant or heartwarming as much as I wanted it to be.
But there were times in the story that made me smile, and I liked how it talked about grief, anxiety, and fear, and how people deal with them differently. And the people pleasing–totally can relate to that. 🫣
Overall, I’m just sad that I didn’t love this. I was so excited to read my first Beth O’Leary book, but oh well. We can’t love them all. I’m going to go cry now. 😂😭
✿ Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ✿
❗Content Warnings❗’
Death of loved ones, alcoholism, and mentions homophobia.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only heated kissing. (🌶.5/5)
February 7, 2026
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 |
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 |
March 11, 2026
Did I read the same book??? LOL because I swear I had a completely different experience than almost everyone SIGHHHHHHHHHH 😔😔
I really wanted to enjoy this one. New town, fresh start, maybe a little swoony chaos… but it just didn’t land for me. The writing style threw me off more than I expected. Usually I’m a sucker for letters, diary entries, emails, but here it felt a bit jumbled, uneven, and hard to fully settle into.
The romance didn’t quite spark either. I kept hoping for moments that would make me care, laugh, or swoon, but they never fully clicked. Part of this is on me. I didn’t realize which author this was when I grabbed the ARC, and looking back, I remember why: I’d read another of her books before, and that one hadn’t worked for me either. 😭 This one just fell a little flat for my taste, leaving me more confused and bored than invested.
The biggest thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Beth O’Leary for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
I really wanted to enjoy this one. New town, fresh start, maybe a little swoony chaos… but it just didn’t land for me. The writing style threw me off more than I expected. Usually I’m a sucker for letters, diary entries, emails, but here it felt a bit jumbled, uneven, and hard to fully settle into.
The romance didn’t quite spark either. I kept hoping for moments that would make me care, laugh, or swoon, but they never fully clicked. Part of this is on me. I didn’t realize which author this was when I grabbed the ARC, and looking back, I remember why: I’d read another of her books before, and that one hadn’t worked for me either. 😭 This one just fell a little flat for my taste, leaving me more confused and bored than invested.
The biggest thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Beth O’Leary for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
April 21, 2026
An extraordinary book!
Beth O'leary excelled herself!
The Isle of Ormer, English Channel.
Two POVs: Charlie Jones (female) and Charlie Jones / Jones (male).
They both arrive at the tiny island to get the job of manager of the Bramblebay farm shop.
And they both have the same name.
No one had the original letter sent by one of the owners, Rosie, just a photo on their phones, and accusing the other of trying to steal their job.
So Rosie proposes a trial period of two months to get to know them, employing both, but only half the salary, and they have to share the accommodations in the barn, a single small apartment provided with the job, because there are no other rooms available in the island.
That will eventually create some tension, by the forced proximity, but further along a slow burn romance develops between the two, that they both try to ignore, but that is always present, even when they're working at the shop.
Charlie is grieving the loss of someone close to her, doesn't sleep much, thinks she has anxiety, lacks confidence in herself, and wants to fulfill the dream of being a mother.
But this time with no man involved, in a sperm clinic in the island of Guernsey.
She is 37 years-old, knows lots of people who got pregnant in their forties, but she doesn't want to take unnecessary risks.
Jones, who is also 37 years-old, is an alcoholic, lost someone too, and though he feels attracred to the beautiful, interesting Charlie, he thinks she would unbalanced him.
There's no cars in the island, only tractors, no lights outside the houses and the local producers committee run pretty much everything, including the farm shop.
Any change the comanagers want to introduce to increase sales are always vetted by the most influenced one Galoshes, and the others just follow.
They are a tight community, with lots of quirky characters and cozy shops, and the gossip runs faster than the win.
The island attracts many tourists, the views over the rocks and the sea being amazing, and also the quality of the products they sell
The story is told by Charlie's diary entries and by the emails Jones sends to himself, writing everyting that happened each day and counting the days that he is sober.
There's also another timeline that starts one year earlier were we know what happened to Charlie, that she was adopted, had mental health issues, and Jones, before they arrived at the island.
I had read aproximately 75% of the book and that's when I noticed a discrepancy in one of the characters statements in different times in the past.
I went back to the point where I remembered she said something about the subject, and as I sometimes read to fast, thought I read it wrong.
But there was no mistake.
And I went to the other character, Jones and there was no mistake too.
It didn't make sense, unless there was a bunch of Charlies and Joneses out there, and it was as te title of the book says "the name game".
I just laugh-out-loud!
And as I continued reading and some visitors were announcing their arrival at the island, by email anf text, it all clicked in place and the twist in the story was so surprising, so well done, so perfect, that I'm not saying anything else!
Bravo Beth!!
I recommend this book to all of you!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
(Just a note to those who usually don't read the acknowledgments, the author explains that the Isle of Ormer doesn't really exists.
It was based entirely on the Island of Sark in the English Channel. )
Beth O'leary excelled herself!
The Isle of Ormer, English Channel.
Two POVs: Charlie Jones (female) and Charlie Jones / Jones (male).
They both arrive at the tiny island to get the job of manager of the Bramblebay farm shop.
And they both have the same name.
No one had the original letter sent by one of the owners, Rosie, just a photo on their phones, and accusing the other of trying to steal their job.
So Rosie proposes a trial period of two months to get to know them, employing both, but only half the salary, and they have to share the accommodations in the barn, a single small apartment provided with the job, because there are no other rooms available in the island.
That will eventually create some tension, by the forced proximity, but further along a slow burn romance develops between the two, that they both try to ignore, but that is always present, even when they're working at the shop.
Charlie is grieving the loss of someone close to her, doesn't sleep much, thinks she has anxiety, lacks confidence in herself, and wants to fulfill the dream of being a mother.
But this time with no man involved, in a sperm clinic in the island of Guernsey.
She is 37 years-old, knows lots of people who got pregnant in their forties, but she doesn't want to take unnecessary risks.
Jones, who is also 37 years-old, is an alcoholic, lost someone too, and though he feels attracred to the beautiful, interesting Charlie, he thinks she would unbalanced him.
There's no cars in the island, only tractors, no lights outside the houses and the local producers committee run pretty much everything, including the farm shop.
Any change the comanagers want to introduce to increase sales are always vetted by the most influenced one Galoshes, and the others just follow.
They are a tight community, with lots of quirky characters and cozy shops, and the gossip runs faster than the win.
The island attracts many tourists, the views over the rocks and the sea being amazing, and also the quality of the products they sell
The story is told by Charlie's diary entries and by the emails Jones sends to himself, writing everyting that happened each day and counting the days that he is sober.
There's also another timeline that starts one year earlier were we know what happened to Charlie, that she was adopted, had mental health issues, and Jones, before they arrived at the island.
I had read aproximately 75% of the book and that's when I noticed a discrepancy in one of the characters statements in different times in the past.
I went back to the point where I remembered she said something about the subject, and as I sometimes read to fast, thought I read it wrong.
But there was no mistake.
And I went to the other character, Jones and there was no mistake too.
It didn't make sense, unless there was a bunch of Charlies and Joneses out there, and it was as te title of the book says "the name game".
I just laugh-out-loud!
And as I continued reading and some visitors were announcing their arrival at the island, by email anf text, it all clicked in place and the twist in the story was so surprising, so well done, so perfect, that I'm not saying anything else!
Bravo Beth!!
I recommend this book to all of you!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
(Just a note to those who usually don't read the acknowledgments, the author explains that the Isle of Ormer doesn't really exists.
It was based entirely on the Island of Sark in the English Channel. )
April 3, 2026
This was just fine for me. Took WAY too long to get to the “twist” which didn’t shock me. It’s a cute story but where is our Flatshare author? Her last few books sadly have not had that same feeling.
April 11, 2026
4 stars. My favorite Beth O'Leary is not the "Flatshare" but the"No-Show" with its big twist that required a bit of patience to read. This one is a close second - a "twist" in my chick-lit?? Yes please!! Granted, this story goes a bit longer before you get to the twist - 70% - but then you do get an answer to the two people named Charlie Jones and how they all got to this very cute & quirky island and the ending was quite satisfactorily all wrapped up, which is pretty important in a rom-com type read.
November 16, 2025
*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.💚💚💚
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.💚💚💚
April 15, 2026
after some reflection ... this was, in fact, as boring as i thought it was when i finished it.
guys i'm so sorry but i really truly didn't care about a single thing that happened in this book. neither of the characters really meant anything to me and i didn't feel the chemistry between them much, maybe because i didn't feel connected or invested in them. i've never read a book by this author before but i've heard some not great things about her writing and honestly it wasn't bad but i can definitely understand why people say it is. it felt a little jumbled and disjointed to me with the style this was done in. all of it just sort of took me out of the story, and that's what you should get out of this review. i never got into it and i was bored.
pre-read
fixing my 30% netgalley ratio one exciting arc at a time 🙂↕️
guys i'm so sorry but i really truly didn't care about a single thing that happened in this book. neither of the characters really meant anything to me and i didn't feel the chemistry between them much, maybe because i didn't feel connected or invested in them. i've never read a book by this author before but i've heard some not great things about her writing and honestly it wasn't bad but i can definitely understand why people say it is. it felt a little jumbled and disjointed to me with the style this was done in. all of it just sort of took me out of the story, and that's what you should get out of this review. i never got into it and i was bored.
pre-read
fixing my 30% netgalley ratio one exciting arc at a time 🙂↕️
April 28, 2026
3.5-4⭐️ A man and a woman, both named Charlie Jones, seek a new beginning on the remote isle of Ormer. But when Charlie Jones and Charlie Jones both land the same job of farm shop manager, the town is as baffled as they are.
I am now utterly convinced that Beth O'Leary can do no wrong. Absolutely none. Additionally, she is one of the most original writers I have come across in the past decade. While she, of course, writes witty rom-coms with amazing banter and emotional depth most readers long for, she also writes books that have such twists that someone may have to come and pull your jaw off the floor, as happened with mine.
That is very much the case with THE NAME GAME, which was both charming and insanely twisty for a romance. With quirky characters, the most picturesque village setting, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, this book has literally something for everyone. I now anxiously await her next book.
Read if you like:
▪️forced proximity
▪️found family
▪️witty banter
▪️emotional romance
▪️quirky characters
▪️epistolary format
Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy.
I am now utterly convinced that Beth O'Leary can do no wrong. Absolutely none. Additionally, she is one of the most original writers I have come across in the past decade. While she, of course, writes witty rom-coms with amazing banter and emotional depth most readers long for, she also writes books that have such twists that someone may have to come and pull your jaw off the floor, as happened with mine.
That is very much the case with THE NAME GAME, which was both charming and insanely twisty for a romance. With quirky characters, the most picturesque village setting, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, this book has literally something for everyone. I now anxiously await her next book.
Read if you like:
▪️forced proximity
▪️found family
▪️witty banter
▪️emotional romance
▪️quirky characters
▪️epistolary format
Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy.
April 22, 2026
Beth O’Leary, you evil genius! I’m still flabbergasted. Two strangers, both named Charlie Jones, arrive on a remote island in the English Channel desperate for a fresh start, only to discover they’ve mysteriously been given the same job at the local farm shop! As confusion unfolds over who the real hire is, their predicament turns into a temporary arrangement of shared lodging and duties.
The quaint farm shop on this quirky Isle of Ormer was the loveliest little place! I'm mentally packing my bags for the sea breeze and biscuits. And how fun and unique with the story being told largely in diary and email format, slowly and emotionally revealing more about MMC Charlie Jones, who is navigating the early days of his sobriety, and FMC Charlie Jones, who painfully longs for a child.
And let me just say, their chemistry is fiery, with a rainstorm kiss to remember! A seemingly typical story, I know. But nothing is as it seems! This book completely scrambled my brain, in the best way. Like … WHAT?! I genuinely felt like I needed an evidence board to piece everything together, and even days later, I’m still unraveling it. Honestly, I need to reread this ASAP just to experience it again through a new lens!
(spice level: closed door)
The quaint farm shop on this quirky Isle of Ormer was the loveliest little place! I'm mentally packing my bags for the sea breeze and biscuits. And how fun and unique with the story being told largely in diary and email format, slowly and emotionally revealing more about MMC Charlie Jones, who is navigating the early days of his sobriety, and FMC Charlie Jones, who painfully longs for a child.
And let me just say, their chemistry is fiery, with a rainstorm kiss to remember! A seemingly typical story, I know. But nothing is as it seems! This book completely scrambled my brain, in the best way. Like … WHAT?! I genuinely felt like I needed an evidence board to piece everything together, and even days later, I’m still unraveling it. Honestly, I need to reread this ASAP just to experience it again through a new lens!
(spice level: closed door)
May 5, 2026
Story 3 stars. Narration 4 stars
This listen took me 9 days although I admit to putting it down to listen to two others. It came really close to being a dnf for me. I’ve read at least 5 others by her and really liked them all until this one. And maybe I was just not in the mood for a contemporary romance. One big problem for me was the use of coincidences to power the story. I am just not a fan so it didn’t work for me. I’m still going to leave it at 3 stars because I did enjoy the main characters and some of the peripheral characters as well. I got really confused towards the end when the reader finds out all the nooks and crannies of the listen. Too many coincidences and people with the same name. I didn’t even back it up to listen again to try and understand it as I was just done at that point. I think it was overly long for a contemporary romance as well. No smut.
Marking it as spoilers since I mentioned quite a few things.
This listen took me 9 days although I admit to putting it down to listen to two others. It came really close to being a dnf for me. I’ve read at least 5 others by her and really liked them all until this one. And maybe I was just not in the mood for a contemporary romance. One big problem for me was the use of coincidences to power the story. I am just not a fan so it didn’t work for me. I’m still going to leave it at 3 stars because I did enjoy the main characters and some of the peripheral characters as well. I got really confused towards the end when the reader finds out all the nooks and crannies of the listen. Too many coincidences and people with the same name. I didn’t even back it up to listen again to try and understand it as I was just done at that point. I think it was overly long for a contemporary romance as well. No smut.
Marking it as spoilers since I mentioned quite a few things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2026
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, for sending me this ARC. Love a good romcom. Fingers crossed.
"A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job."
I loveeeee the diary format. This was honestly such a fun read. I love that it still touched upon real-life, hard topics, too. It was an interesting journey, and that ending was a good twist for the plot. I think a lot of people will enjoy this one - worth a read! I'd love to revisit and listen to the audio version!
3.75-4 stars!
Pub Date Apr 07 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own.
"A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job."
I loveeeee the diary format. This was honestly such a fun read. I love that it still touched upon real-life, hard topics, too. It was an interesting journey, and that ending was a good twist for the plot. I think a lot of people will enjoy this one - worth a read! I'd love to revisit and listen to the audio version!
3.75-4 stars!
Pub Date Apr 07 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own.
April 22, 2026
The Name Game by Beth O’Leary
Contemporary romance. Dual 1st person POV. Much of the book in diary / email format.
Charlie Jones, male, and Charlie Jones, female, both show up on Ormer Island to accept the job offer as retail manager at the farm shop. Not knowing how two people show up for the job, the owner lets them share the job for two months as a test. There is only one available place to stay on the island, so they end up sharing the one bedroom and trying to modernize the farm shop separately.
Needless to say, the process wasn’t smooth.
Because there is a lot more going on beyond the job. Jones is one day sober and while he doesn’t feel great the first week, he’s determined to make this work. Charlie has secrets too but has wanted this island life for awhile.
Who is the real Charlie Jones?
From the premise, I expected a comedy. There is humor in the story, but it’s more life assessment while the two do their best to make the store successful.
Huge reveals around the third quarter mark.
Much confusion, explaining, assessment and more self analysis. Romance too, which is happy as all the explanations settle. Life on the little island improves and grows.
Hard won romance after grief, renewal, and connections. Gratifying.
Contemporary romance. Dual 1st person POV. Much of the book in diary / email format.
Charlie Jones, male, and Charlie Jones, female, both show up on Ormer Island to accept the job offer as retail manager at the farm shop. Not knowing how two people show up for the job, the owner lets them share the job for two months as a test. There is only one available place to stay on the island, so they end up sharing the one bedroom and trying to modernize the farm shop separately.
Needless to say, the process wasn’t smooth.
Because there is a lot more going on beyond the job. Jones is one day sober and while he doesn’t feel great the first week, he’s determined to make this work. Charlie has secrets too but has wanted this island life for awhile.
Who is the real Charlie Jones?
From the premise, I expected a comedy. There is humor in the story, but it’s more life assessment while the two do their best to make the store successful.
Huge reveals around the third quarter mark.
Much confusion, explaining, assessment and more self analysis. Romance too, which is happy as all the explanations settle. Life on the little island improves and grows.
Hard won romance after grief, renewal, and connections. Gratifying.
April 27, 2026
4.5 Stars
Charlie Jones arrives on the remote island of Ormer ready for a fresh start as the new farm store manager. The island is exactly what she needs: quiet, beautiful, and far removed from the life she’s trying to leave behind. But her reset is immediately derailed when another Charlie Jones shows up, insisting he is the one who was offered the job. A simple mix up… or something more suspicious?
Rosie Nicole, the farm’s owner, decides the only fair solution is a two month trial. Whichever Charlie proves to be the better fit will stay on permanently, unless they can boost profits enough to justify hiring both.
Both Charlies are desperate for a restart, and the story slowly unravels their pasts through emails, diary entries, and flashbacks. Their relationship begins with prickly tension, but working and living in such close quarters forces them into an uneasy truce that gradually shifts into trust, respect, and eventually a simmering attraction. It’s a slow burn, but I was hooked on every moment of it.
I also adored the island regulars, an odd, prickly, and unexpectedly warm group who make Ormer feel like a place you’d want to escape to yourself.
As for the name swap mystery, I had no idea where it was heading, but I could feel a twist brewing. When the truth finally dropped, I had to pause and process because it genuinely blindsided me in the best way. O’Leary ties it together so cleverly that once everything clicks, it feels both surprising and completely earned. It added a whole new emotional layer to the story, and I loved it!
I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Charlie Jones arrives on the remote island of Ormer ready for a fresh start as the new farm store manager. The island is exactly what she needs: quiet, beautiful, and far removed from the life she’s trying to leave behind. But her reset is immediately derailed when another Charlie Jones shows up, insisting he is the one who was offered the job. A simple mix up… or something more suspicious?
Rosie Nicole, the farm’s owner, decides the only fair solution is a two month trial. Whichever Charlie proves to be the better fit will stay on permanently, unless they can boost profits enough to justify hiring both.
Both Charlies are desperate for a restart, and the story slowly unravels their pasts through emails, diary entries, and flashbacks. Their relationship begins with prickly tension, but working and living in such close quarters forces them into an uneasy truce that gradually shifts into trust, respect, and eventually a simmering attraction. It’s a slow burn, but I was hooked on every moment of it.
I also adored the island regulars, an odd, prickly, and unexpectedly warm group who make Ormer feel like a place you’d want to escape to yourself.
As for the name swap mystery, I had no idea where it was heading, but I could feel a twist brewing. When the truth finally dropped, I had to pause and process because it genuinely blindsided me in the best way. O’Leary ties it together so cleverly that once everything clicks, it feels both surprising and completely earned. It added a whole new emotional layer to the story, and I loved it!
I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
April 5, 2026
4 1/2 🌟
Loved it 💜.
Beth O’Leary does not disappoint and delivers another thoughtful and touching book with unexpected depth. The plot of The Name Game is built on the deceptions and partial truths of its characters. Then Ms. Leary shook me hard with a plot twist that I did not even remotely see coming! It was great! Do not read any spoilers. The surprise is worth the price of admission.
This story has so many layers and addresses so many topics. There are themes of addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, adoption and single motherhood. It’s hard to believe that a book can cover so much in a thoughtful and effective way but this book does. The characters are typical of O’Leary’s books - unique, slightly broken, fighting a battle - and so engaging and endearing. The community that she creates with her full cast of characters is funny, charming and believably magical, just like the special Isle of Ormer where they all convene.
I very much enjoyed the story and thought the handling of the multiple mental health challenges was well done. O’Leary spends time sharing the perspectives of denial, personal doubt and even self-loathing that accompany these situations. It was very relatable and pulled your heart out for the characters. There are multiple love stories at play here and they all build slowly and quietly. The use of journaling and flashbacks to tell the story worked very well and handily set up the plot twist near the end that had me jumping out of my chair!
I’ve yet to be anything but happy, happy, happy with a Beth O’Leary book and The Name Game delivers on that front beautifully! Loved it and highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this lovely book and share my thoughts!
Loved it 💜.
Beth O’Leary does not disappoint and delivers another thoughtful and touching book with unexpected depth. The plot of The Name Game is built on the deceptions and partial truths of its characters. Then Ms. Leary shook me hard with a plot twist that I did not even remotely see coming! It was great! Do not read any spoilers. The surprise is worth the price of admission.
This story has so many layers and addresses so many topics. There are themes of addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, adoption and single motherhood. It’s hard to believe that a book can cover so much in a thoughtful and effective way but this book does. The characters are typical of O’Leary’s books - unique, slightly broken, fighting a battle - and so engaging and endearing. The community that she creates with her full cast of characters is funny, charming and believably magical, just like the special Isle of Ormer where they all convene.
I very much enjoyed the story and thought the handling of the multiple mental health challenges was well done. O’Leary spends time sharing the perspectives of denial, personal doubt and even self-loathing that accompany these situations. It was very relatable and pulled your heart out for the characters. There are multiple love stories at play here and they all build slowly and quietly. The use of journaling and flashbacks to tell the story worked very well and handily set up the plot twist near the end that had me jumping out of my chair!
I’ve yet to be anything but happy, happy, happy with a Beth O’Leary book and The Name Game delivers on that front beautifully! Loved it and highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this lovely book and share my thoughts!
January 2, 2026
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.
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.
February 19, 2026
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.
January 25, 2026
No one writes a twist like Beth O’Leary.
May 5, 2026
What a heartwarming read RTC
April 24, 2026
You can count on Beth O'Leary to come up with a romance full of twists and turns. I was so intrigued throughout this, wanting to figure out who was keeping secrets and why. This made for such a fun reading experience. But I also loved the romance in this book, and the small island community, it all felt so heartwarming. I would love to reread this book with the knowledge I have now.
April 11, 2026
It was fine. Am I done hoping she’ll write anything I love as much as I loved The Flatshare?
April 16, 2026
Oooh I was excited for this, and on many points, I have to give props to the creativity that goes into coming up with a concept like this. The way things unravelled in the last 20%-ish was entertaining.
As a romance though, I have to say this fell flat. The two main characters work together for a couple of months and by the end of this trial period, they still barely know each other. Maybe it's the curse of being a cynic as much as a romantic, but it just wasn't believable to me.
To truly explain where my hang ups lie with this book, though, I do have to get into spoiler territory. Which I recognize may be a skill issue, but it would be way too confusing otherwise.
Overall, if you're looking for a signature Beath O'Leary twist, then look no further. But I'd stay clear if you're looking for a compelling romance.
As a romance though, I have to say this fell flat. The two main characters work together for a couple of months and by the end of this trial period, they still barely know each other. Maybe it's the curse of being a cynic as much as a romantic, but it just wasn't believable to me.
To truly explain where my hang ups lie with this book, though, I do have to get into spoiler territory. Which I recognize may be a skill issue, but it would be way too confusing otherwise.
Overall, if you're looking for a signature Beath O'Leary twist, then look no further. But I'd stay clear if you're looking for a compelling romance.
April 25, 2026
3.75/4 stars. Hold up… was that a better and more well-done twist that most thrillers I’ve read?!🫨
Okay let me rewind. Charlie Jones, female, and Charlie Jones, male, both show up on the small Isle of Ormer for a new start. However, they both show up for the same job but only one Charlie Jones was offered the job?
The setting of this book was divine. A small Isle near Jersey and Guernsey, 🎶where everybody knows your name.🎶 A farm co-op shop with lots of locals who help, frequent and get into each others business.
This book switches POVs back and forth from Charlie to Charlie AND we also have a handful of chapters from the preceding months that give background to both of these characters and how/why exactly they ended up in Ormer. Extremely difficult to balance all of that and for the story to still flow, but I thought the author did a great job!
I wanted more romance in this book. If I have one complaint about this book, it’s that I wanted to see more on page time with the Charlie’s watching them fall in love. It definitely felt more like a contemporary with romance.
I don’t want to say anything else and spoil but Beth O’Leary you little mastermind!! I don’t know if I’ve ever been so simultaneously confused and wow’ed. I don’t know how you did it but gosh dang you did it!!
Spice level: no spice/kissing only
Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the egalley!!
Okay let me rewind. Charlie Jones, female, and Charlie Jones, male, both show up on the small Isle of Ormer for a new start. However, they both show up for the same job but only one Charlie Jones was offered the job?
The setting of this book was divine. A small Isle near Jersey and Guernsey, 🎶where everybody knows your name.🎶 A farm co-op shop with lots of locals who help, frequent and get into each others business.
This book switches POVs back and forth from Charlie to Charlie AND we also have a handful of chapters from the preceding months that give background to both of these characters and how/why exactly they ended up in Ormer. Extremely difficult to balance all of that and for the story to still flow, but I thought the author did a great job!
I wanted more romance in this book. If I have one complaint about this book, it’s that I wanted to see more on page time with the Charlie’s watching them fall in love. It definitely felt more like a contemporary with romance.
I don’t want to say anything else and spoil but Beth O’Leary you little mastermind!! I don’t know if I’ve ever been so simultaneously confused and wow’ed. I don’t know how you did it but gosh dang you did it!!
Spice level: no spice/kissing only
Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the egalley!!
April 23, 2026
Discombobulating!
What the actual happened three-quarters of a way through this read?
The first half trudged along in the typical rom-com genre. There were moments that kept me awake but I kept going wondering how these two protagonists were going to end up. Despite not being fully into the novel I knew who was who and what was what and then…
I’m still trying to figure out why the curveball needed me to be a chess master to figure out! It went from plausible possibility to outright disbelief. And, this after believing two of the same offers went to “an address” somewhere.
Hint - get the pen and paper ready to nut out the plot twist!
What the actual happened three-quarters of a way through this read?
The first half trudged along in the typical rom-com genre. There were moments that kept me awake but I kept going wondering how these two protagonists were going to end up. Despite not being fully into the novel I knew who was who and what was what and then…
I’m still trying to figure out why the curveball needed me to be a chess master to figure out! It went from plausible possibility to outright disbelief. And, this after believing two of the same offers went to “an address” somewhere.
Hint - get the pen and paper ready to nut out the plot twist!
April 16, 2026
This was a crafty little story that had me utterly confused around the 75% mark, causing me to read, reread and read again. Once I figured it out, I was thoroughly impressed.
There are quite a few triggers in this one so please check content warnings.
There are quite a few triggers in this one so please check content warnings.
February 6, 2026
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
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
November 27, 2025
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!
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!
January 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️
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?
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?
January 13, 2026
Cute in some parts but overall neither fully scratches the escapist Romcom itch nor the one to read something well written
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