Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC of this!

I’m a huge sucker for what I call book-ception, when there’s authors, booksellers, or otherwise bookish people in a book - double points for if the fictional books they’re writing and reading get page time, and I love an enemies to lovers story, so I knew I had to read this one! I’ll start by saying, I don’t think this was enemies to lovers, but it had what I love about the trope (an established history between the characters instead of a more instalove vibe) When Lanie finds out that Noa is not an older woman and is instead a hot guy her own age, she’s shocked and maybe even feels a little lied to, but the two aren’t really ever antagonistic to each other. I loved the evolution of their relationship, Lanie realizing that her previous relationship wasn’t working, her friends, and her grandmother. The end was absolutely beautiful. I recommend this for fans of The Hating Game (for the publishing house vibes), Attachments, and Spoiler Alert (when the person you’re writing to isn’t who you expect vibes) and really anyone who likes a sweet rom-com. This is low on the steam, but didn’t feel overly slow.

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I love books about books. Romance books within the publishing/writing space are having a moment right now, and obviously I could not be more thrilled.

I will say up front that this leans more sweet slow-burn as far as romances go. Meaning - if you like your romance with steam and/or a touch of angst - you may not love this read. However, don't write it off on that basis alone.

This is a rom-com.

And like many of the classic rom-coms we grew up with (think Sleepless in Seattle) this book is simply the beginning of what we can hope is a long-lasting romance. This story establishes a basis for their romance.

During the time I spent with this book I was fully engaged and invested in the building of this foundation. It's clear that Lauran Kate understands and appreciates romance readers, and I was really rooting for the characters (except the fiancé who can go suck a rotten egg).

Overall, this is a good first step into adult romance for Lauren Kate. I would recommend it for romance readers who want something quick, heartwarming, and reminiscent of early aught rom-coms.

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By Any Other Name is the story of Lanie, an editor who unexpectedly becomes her company’s biggest client’s minder. Fortunately, Lanie and Noa – the client, have been communicating for years and have a good relationship. Events necessitate that the two finally meet and woah! Noa actually turns out to be Noah and thinks get messy.

This was a really slow burn romance and honestly, I am not sure if I classify it as a romance in my head. I think the pacing was a bit off. I did enjoy the romance when it happened, but it was so not the focus for a good part of the book. The characters did have good chemistry together, so kudos. I also enjoyed Lanie’s growth from beginning to the end. Noah was also a good ML character. I have my reservations though when it comes to issues that sort of look catfish-y.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

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By Any Other Name By Lauren Kate: 4 stars:
When I saw that the author of the Fallen series wrote an adult contemporary romance, I had to jump on it, and I am so glad I did. Lauren has always been a fantastic writer, but this slow-burn romance was just the things she needed to write. This novel was laughed aloud at times and made me smile, and the chemistry was significant regardless of whether there was legit NO SMUT. The ending did feel a bit rushed for me, and I didn't particularly appreciate that I had to wait until the VERY VERY END for the ONE THING I wanted the entire book. Overall, the writing is fantastic and at a decent pace that the book can be finished in a day. If you wish to read a romance book with legit no sexual content, this is great to add to your TBR. A full review with spoilers will be posted on my blog.

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin for the advance readers' copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This book was more than what you might be expecting. It is funny and thought-provoking. The friendships are just as important as the romantic relationship. There is a scene-stealing grandmother who is an absolute hoot. It's a romance book so you kind of know what you're getting but this is a ride worth taking. If you need a pick-me-up this is the perfect book to pick up.

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3.5 stars. I enjoyed this one! I love reading a book about publishing because I get to see the inner workings of what it takes to get a book out into the world. I loved the concept and storyline so much but it was a tad slow and took too long to get where I wanted it to go.

The friends and grandmother were freaking hilarious and I could read a book just about them and I would be golden! Noah was lovely and their relationship has friends (for 7 years!) was very meaningful even though it was only mentioned a few times and forgotten throughout the rest of the book. I think Lanies reaction was a bit dramatic but I guess it’s hard to know what I would have done in that situation!

I loved the ending but was hoping for more. It kind of just stopped and I had been waiting for that throughout the entire book so it was a bit disappointing. Despite that, I still thought this was super cute and definitely made me love love even more. Now I want to take a trip to Positano and rent a motorcycle! (Well maybe not by myself Ha)

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Lauren Kate’s new novel, By Any Other Name, follows Lanie Bloom, a young woman who chose to be a romance editor specifically because of her love of the novels of Noa Calloway. Lanie has learned everything she knows about love and romance from Noa’s books and even agreed to marry her fiancé, Ryan, because he matched all the items on a checklist Lanie made, inspired by one of Noa’s books. Noa also happens to be a client at the publishing house where Lanie works. Fans (and the publishing house of course) are anxiously awaiting Noa’s latest novel, but there’s a problem – the elusive Noa is four months late delivering the manuscript and no one knows why, not even her editor, who is Lanie’s boss.

When Lanie’s boss doesn’t return to work after her maternity leave, Lanie is promoted, which means working side by side with her idol Noa. There’s one catch – Lanie only gets to keep the promotion (and probably her job as well) if she can get Noa to deliver a best-selling novel in the next three months. Lanie is excited to meet her idol but feels like a rug has been pulled out from under her when the meeting takes place and Noa is not at all what Lanie was expecting. Once Lanie got over her initial feelings of shock and betrayal, she and Noa bonded quickly and I loved watching the two of them work together. Noa’s issue is of course writer’s block and when Lanie hears the heartbreaking reason why Noa is struggling to write the latest book, she is determined to do everything she can to help make this book happen.

Working so closely with Noa makes Lanie reconsider some things in her own life and I really loved her journey and growth as a character. I also loved Lanie’s passion and her big heart and was really cheering her on to break through Noa’s writer’s block. Although Lanie and Noa were my favorite characters, I also had major love for the secondary characters as well, especially Lanie’s best friends and her grandmother. They were all charming, hilarious, and the best possible support system for Lanie.

I was also a huge fan of the book’s setting, which moved from New York to Italy, two of my favorite places in the world. Noa’s books have always been set in New York, but during their first big conversation about the writer’s block, Noa confesses that New York feels used up. I loved that Lanie was able to find a way to refresh Noa’s thoughts on New York and that we got to explore lesser known gems of the city with them.

One of the most special elements for me in By Any Other Name is Noa’s book. We are given an inside look at the premise of the story, as well as some actual excerpts. It’s beautiful and romantic and had me wishing it was a real book so I could read it from cover to cover.

If you’re like me and you enjoy books about books, books that make you laugh as well as shed the occasional tear, stories where a character’s personal growth takes center stage and that also feature a slow-burn, low-key romance, By Any Other Name is the book for you.

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A sweet story that definitely understands why readers love romance, and yet which misses the mark just a bit. Lanie is a nice main character with clear narration and goals, and her Bubby Dora is the standout of the side cast, but the narrative feels too slowly paced and lacking in tension, particularly in terms of the choice to get rid of Ryan early on and the time it didn't spend on Lanie and Noah falling in love. I see the comparison to Beach Read, and the story here is enjoyable enough despite feeling more like a movie than a book, but for me it didn't make the jump into greatness.

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By Any Other Name:

“If faith in love were a source of energy, you could power a small planet.”

I’ll be 100% honest. When I read the first few pages, I thought this was going to be so cheesy and just try too hard for romance. I didn’t know how I was going to actually like these characters. But around chapter 3 (these are shorter chapters) I realized I’m actually going to like these people. I’m so glad I was wrong and ended up really enjoying By Any Other Name.

This is honestly the sweetest, not super cheesy romance. I love all the lists because I am a list person. Any “10 places, 50 things to do” is my jam. I’m also a hopeless romantic, so same Lanie. I enjoyed that they knew each other for quite some time through corresponding, so they had a solid foundation but still could get to a deeper level.

I’m still thinking about the ending and still have the swoon/hearts in eyes just thinking about it. This is a very clean romance story, but it’s so good y’all. Thank you so much Putnam for the gifted copy. By Any Other Name is out 3/1!

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Unsurprisingly, I’m back with another Putnam title that I absolutely adored. I’m such a sucker for books about books. Lanie is a romance editor, and is lucky enough to be assigned to work with her favorite author. I really enjoyed this peek into the editor’s side of the book world.

Lanie’s grandma was my favorite character–she was hysterical and everything you want from a spunky grandmother. Lanie’s friend group was also fun and adorably supportive of her after she broke up with her seemingly perfect boyfriend.

I loved the NYC setting and the tours of Lanie’s most romantic places.

My only gripe about this book is that it ended just as the couple realized they were meant to be. I would’ve liked a few chapters about their relationship!

This sweet rom-com was an extremely quick read, at only around 300 pages. It is definitely one you should pick up when it publishes tomorrow!

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Enemies to lovers? Yes please. This is such a heartwarming story. Chase your own happiness, queen! The writing is fun, sweet, steamy and quick paced. I flew through this story and could now put it down. The writing brought me to tears. Yes. Recommend

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The only reason I didn't finish this wonderfully romantic book in one sitting is that it was 2 AM and I passed out despite my best efforts to continue reading. It could possibly be that I'm operating on about 3 hours of sleep, but I am totally in love with everything about this book. I honestly can't think of something to criticize about it.
Knowing the author's previous books, I came into this expecting great characterization and I got that and so much more. Both Lanie and Noah are wonderful, as are the nutty cast of characters that populate the pages of this book.
It's a plot that you can guess at from the get-go. I'm not saying that this is some kind of genre-defining novel, but I am very energetically stating that it's one of the most entertaining and inspiring rom-coms that I've read in a long while. You will not be disappointed if you give this one a few hours of your reading time.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the delightful early read

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This is a really cute story I loved the premise of having most of the main characters working for a romance novel publisher. The characters were well written and I enjoyed the humor and teasing nature of their banter. The New York setting was also well done and I loved seeing a mix of well known and newer locations it provided. The romance is really sweet and cute, fitting the premise well, but also a bit predictable. While I would have enjoyed the addition of more of a twist somewhere in the story it's still a fun read.

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Lanie lives a life of lists. She has a list for things she needs to accomplish, and a list of things she already has. She even once created a list loosely citing all the things she’d want in her perfect partner, her current fiancé checking every box.

So when an opportunity arises at work that would allow her to check yet another thing off, Lanie is both scared and thrilled. As a romance editor, she’s offered a promotion which would give her the chance to work with the super popular, and equally elusive, Noa Callaway. She’s corresponded with Noa via email before, but they’ve never met. In fact most people have laid eyes on the mysterious author, who just so happens to be Lanie’s idol.

But working with a famous author is not always worth writing home about. In fact, Noa Callaway has a bit of a reclusive reputation and is also late on submitting their latest manuscript. Now it’s up to Lanie to not only get over her shell shock, but to help Noa get over their writer’s block. Well, that is, until Lanie meets Noa. That’s when she quickly realizes, love isn’t always by the book, even in books themselves.

By Any Other Name was a refreshing love story that doesn’t rely on lots of sex to make you swoon. It’s by @laurenkatebooks, an author I’ve amazingly never read before. I wouldn’t call it an enemies to lovers story as it’s been labeled, but readers who love the trope probably won’t be bothered by the misclassification once they dive into the story. I’m also loving the trend of late of books about books. The fictional novels referenced in this one all sounded like great concepts. Maybe Lauren Kate can write those stories too? 😉

Which author would you love to meet, dead or alive, if you had the chance?

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*2.75/5
this book was quick and easy to read, and overall i enjoyed reading it, but other than that, it wasn't anything special in my opinion. i definitely liked the second half of the book more than the beginning, which was very slow, and i was at the 50% mark when i realised i still didn't feel any type of connection with the characters. the romance part was cute but i wish there had been more of it. the ending felt rushed and i think if there had been at least one more chapter it could have been better.

arc provided by netgalley and penguin group putnam in exchange for an honest review.

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Lanie works as an editor at the publishing company that publishes her favorite author, Noa Calloway. She gets a promotion to work as the direct editor to the reclusive author. Her happiness is smashed when she finds out that Noa is really a man.

This romance has a slow start. It's adorable once it starts happening, but we have to get through a fiance full of red flags. As soon as the finance was revealed to be a career politician, I knew she had to dump. Lanie has written a list of 99 things she wants from a romantic partner, and apparently respecting her career isn't one of the bullet points. At least, it doesn't take her long to realize that they want things utterly different out of life.

Noah is sweet, and they're cute once Lanie forgives the deception. The behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world is always fun.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Lauren Kate for an ARC of this book.

It's been a long time since I've read Lauren Kate and after reading this book, I remember just how much I love her stories. This was an incredibly sweet and beautifully developed story about an editor in love with love and an author hiding behind his work.

Noah was quiet and not your normal main character, there were no descriptions of his abnormally good looks or perfect physique. He was a man who Lanie fell for not only because of his looks, but also because of that special zing she gets whenever he's around.

Lanie's love of love stories came from her mother's dying wish for her to find something/someone that she could really, really love. She's a great female character who is well aware of what she deserves, but is also kind hearted enough to make sure everyone is appreciated.

I loved the idea that there is a love story being written inside of a love story. The sweet story coming to life inside of By Any Other Name is also a book I would love to read! Lauren Kate did a great job with this book. My only wish is that there would have been an epilogue, I always like seeing where our couple ends up after they finally get together. I just want to continue their Happily Ever After as long as I can. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a sweet, clean love story that has a rich storyline.

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coming to you with another amazing rom com recommendation 🤍 by any other name - to be released this upcoming Tuesday !

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love the enemies to lovers trope or the grumpy sunshine trope. This one does both right, absolute chefs kiss. Not to mention the vaguely meta vibes because the story centers around an editor and her author. Please go read this so I have someone to talk about my feelings with !

Pub date - March 1 2022

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I just finished the cutest rom-com ever BY ANY OTHER NAME and if you want a book you can't put down about publishing then put this on your list!

Lanie is a romance editor and she based her career in publishing after reading a Noa Callaway book in college. While she's helped her boss work on Noa's books in the past she's given the temporary promotion of a lifetime to editor as long as she can get a book in 3 months, but she's never met Noa or even spoken to the author and when she does she begins to question everything she knew.

This was an enemies/friends to lovers with the sweetest grandma and wonderful coworkers/best friends. I loved the writing, reading about publishing and seeing more of the characters! My only complaint was I needed a few more chapters. I hate when the last page is the couple getting together!

If you're looking for a great romantic comedy to help get your mind off of everything I highly recommend getting this on Tuesday - March 1st when it comes out.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book was really cute. Full disclosure, it took me about 43% of the way through before I wasn't really angry with some parts of it, literally ranting to my boyfriend about it, but it was worth it in the end. I realize it is slated as enemies-to-lovers but in my opinion it is very much a friends-to-lovers, with it also being not-right-for-each-other-to-exes (is that a thing? it is now).

It follows Lanie as she gets a conditional promotion where she gets to work with her idol, a recluse author who is notoriously difficult and experiencing writers block. The promotion will become finalized if the author, Noa Calloway, produces a viable manuscript by the deadline necessary for it to go to print that summer. You know, budgets and things. Lanie loves this author because she read one of her books in college that changed her life and helped give her a list of 99 things to look for in a man to love, which she has found in her fiancé Ryan. AND THEN EVERYTHING HAPPENS.

I don't want to spoil anything so I am not going to go into any more detail about the book, but I am going to list a few pros/cons I feel are non-spoilery about this book below, don't read if you don't want maybe potential spoilers. In the end, I give this a solid 4/5 - it is a nice clean romance, with some predictability but is comforting.

Pros: Jewish female! I love to see Jewish history played out in realistic ways but not shoehorned in. Strong friendships between the characters. Lanie knew what she wanted and really stuck to her guns. It is an easy read.

Cons: It eventually stopped but some of the misogynistic undertones in the beginning of the book really got to me. Gender is a construct in my opinion and I was really struggling with some of the conversations about it. I struggled with Lanie's reaction to meeting Noa - it was not understandable or believable to me.

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