Lainie Bloom is a spitfire in the literary world and when she was offered the opportunity to take on the firm’s most popular author, she was over the moon with excitement. Lainie had been working with Noa Calloway for seven years as an editorial assistant, but they had never met in person. Lainie would relay information to Noa’s former editor concerning the progress of the latest books. Over time they had many online conversations about book revisions, their shared love for chess and how fun it was to live in the city.

I am completely in love with this book!! Everything about it appealed to me from Lainie’s passion for literature, to her best friends who were always ready for an emergency brunch to the devotion she had for her beloved grandmother, whose wisdom meant the world to Lainie. She missed her mother terribly and wondered how she would feel about her big job promotion. Her mother always gave her good advice and wished that Lainie would find true love with her soulmate who would love her unconditionally.

I found “By Any Other Name” to be very intriguing as the author tells a story within a story about the special couple in Noa’s new book and about how Lainie’s friendship with Noa could change once they finally meet face to face. Lainie was curious as to why Noa chose to meet her at the Chess House in Central Park, which was one of her favorite places in the city. Lainie learned about love from Noa’s books, and she valued their friendship, even if it was only a virtual relationship. Lainie was nervous about meeting her favorite author and she arrived at the park wearing her favorite suit, while clutching her favorite Noa Calloway book tightly to her chest. She surveyed the area, looking for Noa among the crowd. Lainie had pictured in her mind many times as to what Noa would look like, but she had no idea that what she believed to be true, was completely and utterly wrong. How could Lainie have been kept in the dark all this time? Will Lainie’s startling revelation determine how she handles the demands of her job? Can her heart take any more surprises?

Review:
This book was not the romance I was expecting. Despite that, everything in this book was predictable. To me it seemed like this was parts of other books I'd read before. Lanie and Noa had the potential to be dee, well thought out characters, but they were one-dimensial and only had 3-4 chracter traits which they repeated over and over to themselves and each other.
I wanted more from Lanie and Noa's life and more from their romance. I wanted something like Two Thousand Picnics in Central Park but it wasn't as rich as Noa/Noah's writing. I was glad the issue of who Noa was resolved itself easily so they weren't lying to each other, but Lanie spent a lot of this book lying to herself and by extension us and it was boring.

Synopsis: What she doesn't know about love could fill a book.

With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie's more than good. She's killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa's writer's block and she'll get the promotion she's always dreamed of. Simple, right?

But there's a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet.

Lanie is a romance editor who has just been put in charge of the company’s best-selling and most popular novelist. Noa Callaway is way behind deadline and super elusive and Lanie’s favorite writer. Though they haven’t met in person, they’ve been friends for years, playing online chess together and chatting, and Lanie is beyond thrilled for the opportunity to serve as her editor. But when they finally meet, Lanie is stunned by what she learns, and she begins to question everything she knows about love, life, and her relationships.

Throughout the story, Noa struggles with writer’s block, and Lanie helps to inspire the author by taking them to various beautiful and inspiring places throughout New York. What results is a wonderful exploration of the city. New York is such a fabulous backdrop to the story, and I love that they visit some of their favorite places and things to do.

Lanie is a fun and layered protagonist who wears her heart on her sleeve and enthusiastically believes in love and happily-ever-afters. The way she feels about books and reading and literature in general speaks to me on a deep level. My entire life has been influenced by books. I’m a former high school English teacher, I run a book blog, I’ve named my children after literary characters and authors, and the librarians at my local library greet me like I’m an old friend (which, at this point, I am. Lol). Lanie lives her life by meaningful insights from her favorite books and speaks passionately about her love of literature and the publishing business. Her career is devoted to this passion, and she uses her favorite romance novel as inspiration for her love life and choice of a partner. .

Lanie learns a lot about herself throughout the book, and I enjoyed her personal journey. One such lesson she learned is that just because a man seems perfect, it doesn’t mean he’s perfect for you. Lanie has an idealized idea of what her relationship is, and she ignores a lot of the signs that suggest she’s not as content as she professes. I think she takes a hard look at her life, her dreams, her future, and what she really wants for herself. She shows tremendous growth and really takes charge of her life.

The relationship between Lanie and her love interest is slow-building and lovely. They have such great banter, and their fun outings are so sweet and charming and fun. I also like that they support each other through some difficult and painful times. Breakups, ill family members, work-related pressures, writer’s block, and more burden them, yet they are repeatedly there for each other. There is a quiet strength in their relationship and an amazing foundation that has slowly strengthened over the almost decade-long work relationship. There’s also a comfort level throughout the book that wouldn’t have been there if they’d just met. They connect on a deep level, and I think that helps Lanie deal with the shock and feeling of betrayal when they first meet.

By Any Other Name is a charming contemporary romance and one I highly recommend. It has great characters, the love story is romantic, and it’s a love story to books and writing and New York. Thanks so much NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

Well this was fun!

Kinda mad over the ending, I wanted to see the publics reaction! But aside from that, this book is a nice time. Lanie is our lovely protagonist and we'll have to read her journey to fall in love but also secure her career.

I liked all the characters but if we have gotten Noah POV this would have sell the deal for me. Even though we spent a lot of time with this character, I still feel like I didn't knew him completely.

If you're looking for a quick read that includes a fun time, this is the book.




Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

First, I love the cover. Secondly, I love that the novel is set in the publishing industry. Lanie is about to get the opportunity of a life time at her publishing house. Yet, she’s in for a bumpy ride since her most favorite author is now exclusively her job to wrestle a new manuscript. I suspected reason for the secrecy behind the author.
By Any Other Name Is a quick read and will bring enjoyment to readers who love books, authors, and all in between.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book. This book follows an editor who tries to help her favorite romance novelist get out of writer's block. Plot twist, she finds out her favorite author, Noa turns out to be Noah. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their banter. I absolutely loved the idea of them working together to find inspiration for Noah's next book and forming a friendship first and foremost. One thing I want to point out is that this is not really an enemies to lovers book. Yes, Laine is mad at Noah for lying but I wouldn't really consider that and enemies to lovers plotline. Despite that, I do think this book holds its own and is a quick enjoyable read.

What happens when you put a mysterious and recluse author who has never shown their face in public and their new editor together? This book which I absolutely LOVED!! Oops, obviously you know I'm going to only say amazing things about this book, but I want to explain why I'm so excited.

Lanie is a romance editor whose manager just left the publishing company. Her manager was the editor for one of the most famous authors whose books inspired Lanie to believe in love. When she is placed in charge of becoming Noa Calloway's new editor, she's in a for a big surprise because Noa is behind deadline and not who she thought.

I had a feeling from the cover and the summary that I would like the book, but I was completely flabbergasted as to how much. I couldn't put this book down and read until I finished which didn't take much time because I was so invested.

Lanie was relatable with a high pressure job and a lackluster romantic life. I thought the author did a great job of bringing Lanie to life and having her contemplate who she wanted to become outside of what she believed her mother wanted for her. You really see Lanie grow and develop into her own person.

The one thing I wish was that we saw BD a little more in the book as she was a hoot, but all the side characters were absolutely hilarious. They brought life to the story and made it a true rom com. I liked that it was more about the character's relationships than it was about getting physical. It was a fun change of pace.

I cannot recommend this story enough to those who have an afternoon to kill and want something super light hearted to read. Also, how could I forget that since it's set in NYC, you get to enjoy that as a backdrop and who wouldn't want to explore New York?

I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Lanie is a romance editor, who has the hottest, most secretive romance writer as her client. When she finally meets Noa Callaway she is surprised that the author is nothing like she believed them to be.

I wanted to love this book, I really did.
The first half was a struggle, but I wanted more Noah once we met him, so I pushed on.

If the first half had been 100 pages shorter and the second half had those 100 pages added to the end, I think the book would have been amazing.

I wanted more of the train, more of the trips, more of the banter. And definitely more of the romance, which I was struggling to find.

I do think the story would have benefited from both povs. Noah was such a fantastic character, but he needed to be much more fleshed out, his pov would have really helped.

There is a lot to like about this book, if you can get into it.

I would love to read more about Elizabeth and Edward.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC.

I couldn't have devoured this book faster if I tried. I LOVED this story! Lanie and Noah's love story was truly epic. I can see this being made into a movie, played out like The Notebook. It was so sweet and romantic, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to re-read this one. I absolutely loved all of the characters, and the pacing of the book was just perfect.
Although Lanie starts out with another man, it wasn't so drawn out that I found myself yelling "just break up with him already!". Everything was so smooth. This story was heartfelt, real, funny, and so deeply romantic.
I loved the twist at the beginning - that Noa is actually Noah, a man who Lanie now has to work closely with to get the job done. It was an amazing read from start to finish. I only wish there was more. I would love to read an epilogue novel of these two lovebirds. Thank you to Lauren Kate, Penguin Group Putnam, and Netgalley for allowing me this amazing read in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to see this book become as popular and classic as I know it will.

I love this book! it is so cute and the characters are relatable and funny! I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow readers! So cute!

Oh my goodness! What an awesome read. I got sucked in right away and really had the best time reading this. I was totally blown away by how much I loved this novel. The characters were fantastic and excellent writing.

This is my second Lauren Kate and I think I’ve learned that her writing style just isn’t for me. I was initially drawn in by the cute cover and description, but unfortunately this was a flop for me. I struggled so hard to get through this, and I couldn’t connect with Lanie’s character at all. She kind of sucks and I found her super annoying.

This was my second Lauren Kate novel and it was a MUCH better experience overall. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I was pulled into the story. Lanie so deeply believes in love that she works at a publishing company that published romance novels. She helps sell love stories to those who desperately want to believe in love as much as she does. Enter Noa Callaway, Lanie's muse and favorite author. The story opens on the release party for their latest book where Lanie pours her heart out to all the other fans about what these books to mean to her; to all of them. She has a run in with a very handsome man and thinks nothing of him, until she runs into him again later.

Through a series of events, Lanie is put up for a promotion to editor on the condition that she can get a manuscript from Noa for their latest novel, which is months late at this point. Lanie meets with Noa, and they are not what she was expecting at all! I liked the route the story took, even though it was a little obvious. Noa has encountered writer's block and it is now Lanie's mission to get the ideas flowing again that write the romances that everyone loves so much. Over a few excursions they get the creative juices flowing again and connect. Lanie is caught off guard constantly as they connect over things Lanie has forgotten that they emailed about over the years.

It was a cute story that I enjoyed and devoured in 2 days. Then ending wrapped up nicely but left me wanting more. It was light on drama which I appreciated and had me smiling like a fool a number of times. Definitely recommend if you're looking from something lighter but still has that HEA.

Lanie is a successful romance editor and engaged to a man who checks off all 99 boxes on her perfect partner wish list. She is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she is promoted and asked to work with the world-renowned author Noa Callaway. Lanie is tasked with helping Noa cure her writer's block and write her next bestseller. It seems like an easy job for a successful romance editor, but no one has seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Callaway. When Lanie finally meets Noa, her world will change forever.

This book had a cute cover and title that instantly drew my attention but I felt like something was missing while I read this. I did not really care for Lanie as a character; in fact, I found her a bit annoying. I also felt like the story was an overused cliche after overused cliche. The whole time I was reading this I felt like I had read this story before but by a much better author. I do not think I would pick up another book by this author again.

This book was awesome. I read a lot of romance and this one was better than most. The plot was original, the characters were relatable, and I really the authors style of writing. I really enjoyed the main characters point of view in this book. I truly do recommend a read.

5 ⭐️ // I adored this book! I could have easily read it in one sitting if I wasn’t so tired. Instead, I settled for reading it within 24 hours, but I could not get enough of it! This was the first book I’ve read by Lauren Kate, and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. Also, there wasn’t a character I didn’t like, and this feel-good story was exactly what I needed. I wouldn’t have complained if the story was longer, but it’ll be great for readers who like short stories.

Read this book if …
✈️You want to travel to Italy
💕Love stories are your favorite
📚You like books about books
💐Tulips are your favorite flower
✍️Your dream job is being an editor or writer

TW: deceased mother, broken engagement, alzheimer's disease

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*3.5

This book is super cute but I just feel as though there is something missing. I wonder if seeing some of the emails they sent as friends as well as a few more scenes of them hanging out would work? I believe that they are in love I just think that we should of had a bit more development for it. I didn't like that there were spans of time when they didn't talk to each other.

The fact that the book was what he wanted their love story to look like is so sweet. I loved that the last chapter is sort of how they met and how he felt about her. Noah showing up in Italy was super cute.

I received a copy through netgallley.

Womp womp. An unlikeable main character is a death sentence for a book for me. I ended up skimming to the end after around 30%. I'm a mood reader so going in expecting a contemporary romance and getting a women's fiction with a splash of romance just wasn't the vibe. I may someday try again, but for now it was just meh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing this ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved the way that Noah and Lainie came together. It was as much a story about two people finding themselves as it was a romance. But the romance was just the right amount to balance out the path to self-discovery.

There were a few things I didn't like:

Not sure what role the ex-fiance played in the overall narrative. The story could have been the exact same even if Lainie had been single since the beginning, but it wasn't a huge detractor.

Additionally, Lauren Kate could have played up Lainie's and Noah's relationship a bit more. They had been corresponding by email for seven years, and apart from a few mentions, there wasnt a lot of allusion to their previous relationship. It just felt like Noah came out of the blue, when he actually had known Lainie for years at that point.

Overall, I really did enjoy the story and especially the ending. It was charming, endearing, and totally work the read

This book would make a great movie! I can see it playing out on the big screen and loving every minute of it. It reads so smoothly and each character is well written you can easily picture yourself as them especially Lanie.

Lanie is so relatable in so many ways. She finally has it all- her own apartment in the city, a great fiancé, and a dream promotion on the horizon and all she has to do is get her favorite author over their writer’s block. All her idyllic visions come to a screeching halt when she’s blindsided by the fact things are not as they same and she begins questioning everything she thought she knew about love and life. Lanie learns so much about her history, life, and love while helping to navigate overcoming writer’s block with conditions.

Rating 4.5 stars

Thank you @putnambooks, @laurenkatebooks, and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback