THIS BOOK IS THE CUTEST!! I really loved Seoulmates, so I knew I need to read Susan Lee’s next book. I am living for the K-drama vibes and all the mentions of Kpop, plus the glorious food descriptions!

This book was about two people with the same name agreeing on a switch, so neither of their summer would be a disappointment. Jessica and Elijah come from different social backgrounds but with the same expectations from their parents: be the best and do what they expect.

By the end of the summer internship, they both learn to stand up for themselves, meeting new friends, planning an amazing event for the company they work for, sacrificing something in order to have value and honesty. So well-written and explaining bits of the Korean culture and relationships between elders and youngsters.

I flew through this book in a day and had such a great time! Cannot wait for Susan’s next book! :)

This is a YA contemporary that requires a large amount of suspension of belief, or a general lack of knowledge of how the world works. As an adult reader looking in, it definitely wasn't for me, but would I have liked it more as a young adult? Maybe, but even then I'm unsure.

This story's concept is interesting - the idea that two people with identical, unisex Korean names getting mixed up for a summer internship? Fantastic, new, fun! Let the chaos begin. However, there were a few things that felt unrealistic in terms of how the characters get mixed up.

We start the story at an airport where both our MCs are checking in for their flights. Their Korean names, Lee Yoo-Jin, are the same. Somehow, despite all the security present in US airports, their airline tickets are swapped. This is taking into account that their passport numbers would be different than that in the airline booking, the gender listed on their passports and the ticket would be wrong, and they'd have to get through both the airline registration AND the security checkpoints without anyone noticing that the tickets don't match the passports (especially since Elijah's is international). This felt so suspicious already. Even as a teenager, I knew my passport and ticket information had to be a certain way because I had a middle name. Both these characters have flown before and you're telling me that they don't know the name on their passports?? And that they both have romanized and Western names, but they don't know which one is registered on their passports?? Wild. Unrealistic. Already, I have so many questions.

That was the start of the adventure and that wasn't the only thing I felt was unrealistic about this story. That being said it is YA. Would this story be better fit for a fourteen year old, probably. Someone who is more sheltered and young (and I knew a lot of people like that in high school) would not look as closely at the realism of the story and enjoy the chaos for what it is. I'd also definitely recommend librarians and teachers buy into this story, because there are a lot of great points that I think would be valuable for teens. This also provides examples for teens to speak out about what they're passionate about and have hard conversations and reflect on things like sexism in the workplace, classism, and empathy.

Where this book shines is through the characters' growth. Understanding and finding who they want to be in a world that limits their worldviews and opportunities. There are important examinations of wealth and opportunities, the weight of the future sitting on the shoulders of teens who can't afford anything, the questions of hard work versus class/perception. I think Susan Lee does a fantastic job with handling these subjects in a way that is easy to understand and can help provide the language to teens to examine these issues within their own lives and realities.

That being said, while the personal growth was strong, I found the relationships between characters were shallow and weren't properly developed. Yes, there was a level of support and physical attraction between the MCs, but there wasn't much depth to their relationship with each other or those around them and that was disappointing. Maybe the book was trying to address too many things and be too many things, but it really fell short here.

The Name Drop, unfortunately, felt shallow and the events that bring the MCs together didn't feel well research or justified in a lot of places. The amount of slang was also a turn off, as I find slang so transient that it ages the book quickly. All in all, this book had all the elements of a strong, diverse story, but it just didn't make the cut for me.

Rep: Korean cast

TW: classism, sexism, racism, cursing, emotional abuse

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 2/5
Overall: 2.5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Inkyard Press via Colored Pages Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

The title is very clever and the plot is so fun to read. It’s lighthearted while also showcasing some really important topics like misogyny and classism. I just wish there was a lot more showing instead of telling. I really liked all the characters as well (Jason and Hee-Jin were my favorites). There were a couple contradictions in the book and though I loved the ending, I would have loved it even more if it were more fleshed out.

The Name Drop was a super fast and easy read. If you need a light-hearted book where you don’t have to think much into what you’re reading, give this book a try.

Things I Liked/Loved:
💙: Asian representation
💙: Representation of women/minorities in the workforce
💙: Kdrama vibes

Things I Didn’t Like/Enjoy/Confused Me:
😢: Jessica was very annoying to me in the beginning, so much to the point where I almost DNF the book.
😢: Sometimes it felt as if the setting was more in Korea than in New York. Even with the touristy things they did I did not feel like I was in New York and sometimes I even forgot that they were in New York.
😢: Was not a fan of the way the internship was set up. For a company that is said to be a big tech giant and with the name alone can get anyone the future they want, the interns did absolutely nothing if it wasn’t for Jessica and her project. If the project didn’t exist then the internship would be for nothing.
😢: The ending seemed rushed, it felt like the book was wrapping up the plot quickly to end.

Relatable Quote/Scene {spoiler}:
💙: “Because there’s nothing special about where I come from. Nothing to set me apart from kids who have privilege and opportunity. I’ve got no name or bank balance to throw around and impress like other kids getting into the best schools. This internship is my one shot to get a step ahead, even if it’s a tiny one. Terrified, sure. But capable, one hundred percent, I remind myself. And when all else fails, like I tell myself at least ten times a day, fake it till you make it. And one day, I’ll eventually get to the place in my life where there’s a lot less faking it and a lot more making it.”

Thank you so much NetGalley, Inkyard Press and Susan Lee for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💙

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Susan Lee has written a very enjoyable and sweet YA romance. A story of mistaken identities with Trading Places vibes.
I was rooting for Jessica and Elijah the whole book but was more invested in the internship project over their romance. I’m not familiar with K-dramas but I imagine if you enjoy them this would be a book for you.

When a name mix up between Elijah, a future CEO and Jessica, an incoming intern leads to a job switch and very interesting summer ensues. This is the first book of Susan's I have read and really enjoyed it. It was a fun and creative story that had me interested throughout the whole book.

So first of all I love Jessica. She is the most relatable anxious queen i have read about literally ever. Elijah is a sweetheart who needs to be able to spread his wings.
His dad shows up for one phone call and made my blood boil. If I'm not supposed to like Elijah's dad mission accomplished. He angered me so bad I felt it in the pit of my stomach. Also Jason is a freaking cutie. I love him. He's such a sweetheart. Elijah's dad really really sucks.... i put it in twice so you know it's true. The misogyny in this is real, but it's also kind of soft if that makes sense. Elijah's mom is the best. I love her. Also Elijah and Jessica are so cute together. I need a second book about Jason and Ella.

Jessica is super excited about her summer internship at Haneul Corporation. Elijah will also be spending the summer there, which he is not looking forward to at all. Thanks to their having the same Korean name, they both end up with the summer they needed but did not at all anticipate. While they were both very confused at their luck in the beginning, once they realized what was going on, they decided to play along. Jessica got more opportunities than she imagined possible and Elijah got to be a normal teenager. This was a fun read with a great ending. Recommended for grades 8 & up.

I thought this book was just fantastic. It was a sweet romance, but with plenty of heart, teamwork and strong characters. The mistaken identity plot, however unrealistic, was honestly so funny, especially in the beginning when Elijah and Jessica hadn’t figured it out yet. I was so intrigued to see how they’d pull it off. Both Elijah and Jessica were such complex and well developed characters. I loved Elijah’s slight Lucille Bluth energy at the beginning and how he becomes such a team player and hard worker. And Jessica’ growing confidence in herself and her abilities was such a joy to watch. Hee-Jin, Jason and Ella were also such great secondary characters who were just charming. This was a GREAT YA novel and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it and fall in love with Elijah and Jessica too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for a digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica and Elijah have one thing in common…their Korean name. Everything else about them is polar opposites. When both fly to New York to start their summer internships at the prestigious Hanuel Corporation, a mix up at the ticket counter starts their problems. Jessica, a hard worker from a hard working family is determined to make connections she needs to get into a good college next year. Elijah, a Korean chaebol, is determined to slack off and is only there to appease his CEO father. Due to having the same name, they get mistaken for each other and they get to experience a different side of life.
I LOVED Susan’s Lee’s Seoulmates so much and this had very similar vibes. It was a little slow to start but once the relationship between Jessica and Elijah starting warming up, I was hooked. Check out this book if you love: fish out of water trope, boy falls first trope, rich boy/not rich girl trope, learning more about other cultures, and a cute guy with a nice butt!

dnf but for no reason other than that i’ve recently learned this trope isn’t something i enjoy! in fact it brings me a lot of anxiety! what i did read was fine, but not overly engaging. jessica’s inner and outer monologue was very irritating.

The Name Drop is super cute and quick-paced with tons of K-drama spice! I adored this one from Susan Lee and it’s everything you want in a quick read.

Although I flew through this one, it still had a ton of ideals and angst weaved through out. It almost had a Cinderella-esque type retelling yet instead with a Chaebol prince and a hardworking young girl trying to earn her place in the world. I love how Elijah and Jessica’s worlds were colliding in an honest mistake yet so much more was truly at stake for each of them.

Really enjoyed The Name Drop and all the Korean culture Susan Lee always weaves throughout her books. If you’re looking for a mistaken identity meet-cute with tons of sparks flying, definitely grab this one!!

Susan Lee wrote this hilarious, heartwarming, hidden gem of a rom-com that kept me entertained cover to cover! It comes out on 9/12/23, I highly recommend picking up a copy of your own!

This was a good story, but the foul language is over the top. I was disappointed in the adults in this book. They were not supportive of what was best for their kids. They were too worried about how their children would reflect on them.

This is fiction, so you do need to just throw away any ideas of it being realistic. It read really fast, easy, and light.

Right off the bat, the premise of The Name Drop was intriguing to me, and it kept me hooked throughout the book.

I previously read Lee’s Seoulmates, and feel that this book is an improvement. The characters were more likable and the storyline was more interesting. The idea that Jessica and Elijah share the same Korean name and that they switch places so that Elijah gets to experience a ‘normal’ summer working a low-paying internship while Jessica gets a taste of luxury was so much fun! And this setup is ultimately what kept me reading.

I felt like the romance was underdeveloped, and the characters lacked lasting chemistry or feelings. Initially, when Jessica and Elijah first saw each other at the airport, I was excited for the romance to develop and felt the beginning of a spark. The same thing happened in the elevator when Jessica grabs Elijah and writes her phone number on him. That was so fun and could have developed into a strong romance. But after that, those moments fizzle out and the romance is no longer noticeable to me. Especially because it seems like time passes without any romance development, until the very end. And I was not a fan of Elijah finally admitting his feelings for Jessica towards the end during a big fight. And the ending drama and resolution felt very rushed to me.

One of the best parts of this book was the dual pov. I feel like this elevated the story and was one of the only elements that attempted to build the romance. It also was enjoyable to see the drama of Jessica and Elijah switching places, and how each of them was experiencing a taste of the other’s life. Even so, Elijah as a character fell flat for me and his characterization seemed to contradict itself. It felt like Lee was trying to show Elijah’s growth, but he seemed pretty self-aware of his lifestyle even at the beginning and nothing really changed throughout the book.

Overall, while I normally love romance books, I was more interested in the actual internship storyline than I was in the romance between Jessica and Elijah. To me, Jessica’s experience at the internship outshone the romance. I even wanted to see more of Jessica and Hee-Jin navigating sexism within the company and becoming friends from these experiences. I will be reading more of Lee’s books, as they are fun, lighthearted reads. But The Name Drop fell short for me in some ways.

Thank you to Susan Lee and Netgalley for the ARC!

"The Name Drop" was a good story but I wasn’t as into it as I was the author’s previous novel. The concept and how it combined the mistaken identity and class difference tropes was interesting. Its uniqueness hooked me in. The story kind of reminded me of The Parent Trap. Based on what I read in the acknowledgments section, I can see the author vividly reflected in the main characters.

Jessica and Elijah share the same Korean name, Yoo-Jin Lee, and are determined to prove their worth during a summer internship in New York. After their names get mixed up, Elijah comes up with a plan that they switch lives just for the summer - Jessica with the Executive Training Program and Elijah with the rest of the interns - to which Jessica hesitantly agrees despite all the things that could go wrong, especially if her dad found out. What ensues is a life-changing summer, an unexpected but cute romance, and great character development.

I liked Jessica's kindness and work ethic. Against her overprotective father’s objections, she applies to the internship program at the company her father hates working for. This internship is a chance to make herself stand out more to colleges and get ahead better so that she can get to a place in her life where she’s making it more than faking it. And, hopefully, make her dad proud of her. I admire her tenacity and how she comported herself throughout the internship.

I had mixed feelings about Elijah but liked him and his characterization. He’s a good kid who just wants to exert more control over his life. He decides to go incognito as an intern at his father’s company, Haneul Corporation, as a last chance to show his dad that he’s not a failure and disappointment. As just another intern, Elijah can distance himself from his family name, wealth, and privilege, and be treated fairly like everyone else. Elijah still has a lot of changing and growing up to do, but his heart is in the right place. He genuinely makes an effort to do better and be better. I’m glad he got a chance to be his own person for once and be happy.

Throughout an unforgettable summer, both characters get an opportunity to really define who they are, where they fit in, and what direction they want their life to take. Figuring these things out is always hard and challenging. Sometimes the way is clear. Sometimes it’s an uphill battle. Sometimes you have to start over. Jessica wants to do something important and prove she can. Elijah needs space to figure out what he wants to do with his life.

"The Name Drop" was a likable YA romance story that highlighted the importance of self-worth, hard work, and teamwork. The book didn’t wow me but I was invested in Elijah and Jessica’s success with the internship and hoped there wouldn’t be too bad of a fallout. They are so capable and really do deserve support as they make their way in life.

Thanks again Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

The Name Drop is one of the cutest YAs I've read this year. It's so sweet and just so freaking adorable. Jessica and Elijah seem unlikely at first and definitely have their share of issues, family drama included, but it's the right amount without weighing things down too much. Overall it's a fluffy, charming, and delightful read that will leave you giddy at the end. Definitely recommend.

The Name Drop is perfect for fans of rom-com kdrama fans who love a case of mistaken identity and the heartwarming vibes from a coming-of-age story. When Jessica (Yoo-jin Lee #1) finds herself in a first class seat to her new internship, she doesn't think much about it. That is until she finds herself in a completely different intern program and living in a bougie NYC brownstone. When Elijah (Yoo-jin Lee #2) finds himself in a cramped apartment with other interns, he thinks his CEO father is trying to teach him a lesson. Discovering the case of mistaken identity becomes the perfect opportunity for him to fly under the radar of his oppressive father's control and enjoy a summer in the city while Jessica can do all the work and get the connections she needs.

When I initially started The Name Drop it took me a while to get into the story. The characters are in their late teens but the prose read very young in tone. However, it isn't difficult to understand and you easily become enamored with the characters and their goals to make the most out of the summer in NYC. Jessica is the lovable female lead who has a habit of oversharing when nervous and is determined to make her parents proud. Her interactions with Elijah were so cute and I was already picturing them in a classic kdrama scene (cue emotional OST music and Subway ads). I loved seeing them overcome their differences and work together with each other and the intern team to break against the limitations the adults place on them for simply being younger.

The Name Drop manages to capture literal summer sunshine and coffee-run internships while also providing a dose of adorable friendships and romance as it highlights the importance of knowing one's worth and the endless possibilities that come with the next chapter of your life.

Ahh! I loved this book! It was a quick read for me and I adored it.

But also, here are a few things I absolutely loved about this book:
❤️ Asian representation
❤️ Growth from both Elijah & Jessica
❤️ Representation for women and minorities in the workforce, still in modern times
❤️ The pacing
❤️ The premise of the switch
❤️ YA Contemporary Romance

I'm even more excited for any other future works that Susan Lee will put out!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.

such a cute and lighthearted read!

The Name Drop is about two teenagers, who happen to share the same korean name, having their summers turned upside down when they accidentally find themselves switching places after a case of mistaken identity.

lets meet our main characters
1.) Lee Yoo-Jin aka Jessica:
-very determined and hardworking,
-selected to undertake a summer internship at a very prestigious company that her father is a low level employee at
-hoping to improve her future career options and pay for college

and

2.) Lee Yoo-Jin aka Elijah:
- the son of the very rich ceo of aforementioned prestigious company
-held at gunpoint by his father to attend an executive training program this summer
-will one day be future ceo of the company which he knows nothing about and has no interest in inheriting
-has no idea what he’s doing with his life and “just wants to play video games all day and live a life of leisure off my family’s money,” which is exactly what i would do if i were him

this little coincidence of them having the same name turns into a whole mess. jessica ends up on a first class flight, housed in lavish accomodations and on the first day of the internship ends up brushing shoulders with the company higher ups, whereas elijah ends up in jessica’s internship that is basically the company’s excuse as a tax write off, doing menial tasks and living in a cramped living arrangements with the rest of the other middle class college students of the internship.

when jessica and elijah realise what happened, they propose that they both live out each other’s role in secret, giving jessica the chance at a life changing opportunity and for elijah, who never wanted to be here in the first place, to have a “normal” summer as a normal teenager and potentially piss his daddy off simultaneously. and the story unfolds from there.

this book was actually entertaining. it is perfect for breaking a reading slump and you’ll fly right through it. while it was a bit absurd and over the top at times, and the characters liked each other way too fast, i was able to suspend my disbelief for the fun of the book. it did it’s job and i would recommend this to anyone looking for something to binge read.