What can I say about this book but ... It' s amazing and I loved every word of it. My only complaint is I wanted so much more ... this girl needs an epilogue. Do you love a slow burn closed door romance book? Well read no further and pick up this book. I've always been fascinated with the editorial world and this book gave me a chance to enter that world. I would totally reread this book again.

This was a fun read. It was overall enjoyable and I had a good time reading it. I really enjoyed the second half, it was a 4-star read. It was a romance and I knew what would happen but it had some cute twists and I liked the slow burn that really had them getting to know each other. However, I could never quite get over the beginning which is why I ended up at 3 stars.

Lanie is just so annoying and childish at the beginning. She's planned her life around a romance novel and her entire life unravels because the author is a man instead of a woman? I didn't buy it and was really annoyed. The whole list of things she wants in a husband and how it's tied to a dead mother, I swear I saw that movie years ago. The relationship with Ryan was also so obviously and over the top toxic that with only her point of view, it was totally unrealistic that the relationship ever existed. Lanie eventually won me back over but for maybe 50 pages towards the beginning, I was incredibly annoyed with everything she did.

I did like Noah's character throughout but felt like I never really got to know him, maybe a split POV or just more scenes with him would have helped. Their pets were adorable though and he had some really cute scenes with Lanie. I was pretty sure I knew where this plot was going (and I was right) but some of his actions just didn't add up. Again, it was a case of the beginning just being a little odd and not lining up with the rest of the book.

I did find the whole idea that it was such a big deal the author of romance books was a man to be a bit patronizing. There are male romance authors. Yes, the lie is bad and a big deal but I don't understand the point of the lie. The story focused too much on Noa/Noah's gender rather than that some publisher lied about it for ridiculous reasons. But even with that, you'd think a romance writer could give romance readers a little more credit. Why disparage your target audience?

So overall, a fun read but not my favorite. It's a cute slow-burn romance with zero smut. If that's your thing, power through Lanie's terrible personality in the beginning, it gets fun eventually.

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

By Any Other Name has so much going for it: a plot centered around books, a character who works as an editor for a mysterious author, a grand reveal of the mysterious author's identity, and sightseeing around New York City that leads to falling in love. Add in the promise of enemies to lovers and to me, this sounds like an absolute slam dunk.

Yet, I finished this book wishing for more. For starters, I would argue that this is way more women's fiction than it is romance as we spend more time unraveling Lanie's perceptions about life and love than actually building the central relationship. The time that we do spend with Lanie and Noah, to me, merely skates along the surface of this epic love story that Kate is trying to present to us. It's certainly a quick and enjoyable read, but I couldn't help feeling that it was on the cusp of being a great one.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I was very hopeful I would enjoy a story filled with romance and intrigue; instead felt the story dragged on way longer than needed to be. Two thirds in once the main plot was revealed, the book lost its’ luster and the characters became dull and boring. The romance was not believable and totally unrealistic. An incognito wealthy author writes romance books manages to keep the identity under wraps for how many years? No press ever wondered who the author was? And how this author so rich to own a penthouse place? If authors made that much money, they wouldn’t need to write. Sadly disappointing story.
I kept reading hoping the story would redeem itself; thinking maybe that the last book idea would have been about their relationship but I was wrong. I didn’t feel any chemistry with the two main characters or the characters in the final book. I wanted to know why they didn’t interview the characters in the latest story. All this story left me was how different it could have gone.

This book was so amazing and swoony! The ending left my heart a flutter! Thank you netgalley for the arc for review! Definitely recommend for those romantic souls!

Out protagonist Lanie works as an editor for Peony Press when she gets the promotion or her dreams as editorial director, the only catch she has 3 months to make Noa Callaway (their bestselling author) deliver a very overdue manuscript.

Noa is not the person she thinks and at the begging of their encounter I didnt thing there was anything wrong with him but Lanie just seemed ti be ugly right iff the bat. None the less this is a very magical love story, with amazing NYC scenery and the best part is s book a out books. Which as a book lover I absolutely love.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this books.

Lanie has it all. A fiancé who checks all the boxes, great friends at her job and a chance at her dream job with her favorite romance author! Only her author is 3 months past deadline and is notorious for not being seen or heard from. Everything runs through her assistant. Lanie's career is on the line. Get Noa Calloway's book by May or lose her dream job! Lanie think's she's got it, except a giant secret throws her whole life into question, the job, the author, the fiancé all in jeopardy! Can she get through it?

This book gave me all the feels! I could not put it down and enjoyed it so much. I love a book about books. We get sneak peaks inside the publishing world. I loved the twist and Ryan was so swoon worthy. I know they were supposed to be an enemies to lovers trope but I didn't really think they were enemies. Also this is a slow burn, which I don't really love, but this one paced so well I was so here for it! I loved that the characters weren't these polished perfect characters, they both had intense family backstory. I loved that Lanie was jewish and she wasn't stereotypically so. The grandma was priceless I need a BD in my life!

A weak book not saved by the premise. I thank the publisher for sharing it with me but it was not at all believable or unbelievable.

"It spelled out how to really, really love. With humor, with heart, and with bravery."

I really enjoyed this book. It taught about what love truly was, not about what we THINK love is. Many of us think that finding that perfect match is about checking off all of the boxes. Lauren Kate demonstrates how it is everything BUT that. This book is a bit meta in the way it shows Lanie's near religious belief in romance books, when in truth it is more than just cliches and picture perfect endings. Love is hard. It is not all sunshine and roses. Sometimes it is something you have to work really really hard for, sometimes nothing is wrong but it just doesn't work. Love is all of the high's and low's and everything in between. Lanie had a guy who literally marked everything off her list and yet she still wasn't complete, and that was OK. True love isn't a check list. I cried in the last chapter about how perfect the Noa Calloway book ends up being.

AHH this was such a cute and fun lighthearted read!! I could totally imagine curling up on a blanket at a beach reading this one. The concept is wonderful and is executed well. My biggest literary complaint is that I felt like the ending fell short. It was rushed. I wanted more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for this ARC. I don’t think I have ever been more frustrated by a book. I really struggled in the beginning to feel connected to anyone in the story, and to be completely honest I hated Lanie from the very first page. The story then picked up a little once she got into contact with Noa Callaway, and then Lanie kept breaching her NDA! Like how are you going to sign an NDA for your most important client and then go on and break it to gossip with your best friends?! And then the pacing of this book… actually abhorrent. The plot does not fully pick up and become entertaining until 70% in and then all of a sudden the book is done and I don’t want to ever pick it up again. This had the potential to be a great enemies to lovers but instead… it was so bad.

I LOVED this book so much. I loved the way it revealed little glimpses of the publishing world. I loved the discussion of how books are written, how inspiration folds or unfolds. I also really fell in love with the main characters, Lanie and Noah. It's a definitely slow burn between the two of them, but it's perfect because you get to see how they become such good friends. You get to see Lanie very hurt by Noah, and how she learns to forgive. They find their way back to each other, and get to explore beautiful scenes in New York City along the way. The best friends in the book are funny and supportive, as the best ones always are. There's also a great story here about gender roles, and being your authentic self. In a world where books about super sad people in super sad marriages abound, this book felt like a necessary and welcome departure; a real breath of fresh air. I couldn't recommend this book more.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of a parent (past), grief, sick parent (Alzheimer's)

This was a light fiction read with a romance subplot. An ode to the publishing world, it wasn't much of a romance, and I got frustrated that it wanted to be an ode to romance but the books it was emphasizing read to me as also fiction reads with romance subplots. I'm also just not as big of a fan of red herring/love triangle tropes.

Lanie's story of self-discovery and acceptance was fun and breezy but it never fully pulled me in so I was invested. A low angst low steam read.

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC!
I've only ever known Lauren Kate for her YA paranormal romance series, Fallen, which I absolutely adored in my teen years. By Any Other Name was a sweet and warm rom-com which I loved. Lanie and Noah were such fun characters. Plus, Lanie was Jewish and while it wasn't a major plot point, her representation in wanting to connect with her Bubby, keep tradition alive and raise future kids as Jewish was quite heartwarming and I love to see it. This gave readers that fictional glimpse into the publishing world as well as the process of writing under a pseudonym. I thought this was so cute and I also really enjoyed Lanie's flashbacks that had gotten her to each point in her present life. If you're look for a quick cute story, this one should be on your list.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4550973526
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/a0add709-2ea2-4e3c-ae24-178bc9359a6b

By Any Other Name was witty and funny and exactly the book I needed in this moment. This book delivers on: laugh out loud moments, quality banter, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, solid friendships and family relationships outside the romantic pairing, and bookish goodness.

By Any Other Name has earned its place as my second five star read of 2022. I spent my weekend telling my fiancé to go away so I could read my book, and I’m not sorry about it.

I recommend the book to romance fans who enjoy friends to lovers and enemies to lovers and anyone who’s ever made an important life decision because of something they read in a book.

I want to re-read this book already and I cannot wait for its release! What makes this book so comforting is how real the characters were written. As a romance readers we tend to romanticize every aspect of our lives and Lanie is a hopeless romantic.

Noa Callaway’s first book “Ninety Nine Things I’m Going to Love About You” inspired Lanie to pursue publishing. As the avid hopeless romantic Lanie is, she makes a checklist of 99 things she looks for in a partner. Fast-forward seven years, Noa and Lanie have become friends through email interactions in which Noa keeps out of the spotlight. Follow Noa and Lanie on this journey to finish Noa’s latest book where writer’s block is not their only hurdle.

Thanks so much NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. By Any Other Name has become my new comfort read.

OK I find it hard to review this book without spoiling it so I will try to be brief.

I loved the book. It was surprising and funny and sweet in that lovely romcom way. It reminded me of so may of my favorites books and movies. There was some calamity, some embarrassing moments, some minor pining, and some major secrets. A super sex positive grandma, an excellent friend group, and a romance that feels like it was there all along.

I found myself smiling and re-reading sections. Lainey was a great character and her life as a romance editor was something that drew me in but her way of seeing the world kept me there. I am sure i can list 99 reasons I love this book but honestly just read it for yourself because it was lovely.

This was such a fun book! Lainy has to realize through the book that her ideas of love might not be as accurate to what love really is. When her job is on the line, her engagement goes down the drain, and she learns the truth about Noa Calloway, her favorite author, she has to figure out if she really knows all that life has for her.

My only issues really have to do with pacing. The first third felt pretty slow, and then it felt like Noa and Lanie really didn’t spend a ton of time together, which then made the ending feel rushed and I wanted more. Ultimately the book could have been like 50 pages longer and it could have helped some of that! And this book *needed* an epilogue!

But ultimately, a cute story that I could barely out down! Beautifully written! I hope Lauren Kate writes more contemporary rom-coms!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

📖 By Any Other Name
📝 Lauren Kate
Method Read: Ebook - Kindle 📱

Thank you so much to @laurenkate @penguinrandomhouse @netgalley for the digital ARC! This book will be published in March 1st! 🎉🥳

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5⭐️ {4}

Anyone love a good enemies to lovers trope? How about books about the publishing industry & writing? Then this gem is for you! 🙌🏼

This was my first Lauren Kate book and let me tell you, I’ll definitely be reading more of hers! She has this way of writing that really puts you in the mind (and heart) of the main characters - making you feel super invested and part of their journey! Not to mention I’m a huge nerd, and loved the expansive vocabulary she has + new words I learned 🤓

Lanie & Noa have a bond that goes beyond their first in-person meet up — and their interactions truly give me life! Don’t sleep on this book, snag it when you can! 📖

Read this if….
🔥 Slow burns are your jam.
✍🏼 You want to learn more about the publishing industry
👩🏻‍🍼 You have a soft spot for Moms
🏙 You’ve always wanted to explore New York
🕵🏼 Identity Crises

I liked this book!

The storyline was there! But unfortunately, the plot did not reach up to the potential it had. I wanted to like this story, but I could not get into it. I thought it was a cute book, however! But I could not feel any type of chemistry from Lanie and Noa. Though I love how they played chess together, that was super cute! Overall liked the book, but it was more of a coming-of-age/self-discovery book than romance.