the name drop had a great mix of both plot and romance for the ya genre. i will say this was very much a plot forward book which i was super happy about because we got all the nitty gritty details of the o so fun days of interning.

some things i liked:
- the mistaken identity premise of this book. it was interwoven seamlessly throughout the book and had a great impact on the character growth.
- the style of writing. i think lee did a great job writing for a ya audience and it was such a quick and easy read as an adult.
-multi-pov. this book featured the pov of both jessica and elijah which really helped capture the full view of the story.

some things i was confused about (for the not quite 5 star):
-the fact that everyone who worked for the company and all of the interns were korean. i would have believed this if the setting was in korea but it just didn’t make sense to me for a company in nyc.
-the conclusion seemed kind of abrupt to me and like the author was just trying to wrap things up before she hit a certain page limit. the ending seemed really rushed to me and it kind of undermined all the growth the characters had during the book.

in conclusion, if you are looking for a ya romance with k-drama vibes i would highly recommend checking out the name drop.

thank you to netgalley and inkyard press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for Inkyard Press, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Name Drop! I am a sucker for anything Susan Lee writes, and this one was no exception! Like, she’s a great writer and ARMY, it’s a no brainer lol. It was a cute, quick read, the type that’ll scratch that YA romance itch in your brain. The character development was wonderful and I loved seeing how clearly the MCs developed and matured over their journey. The only thing that didn’t strike a chord for me was some of the over-explaining dialogue, like some of that could’ve been cut and it wouldn’t have taken away from the story. The discussion on corporate politics and privilege was spot on for this age group, but that’s no surprise given that Susan writes incredibly well for the young adult audience! I’d definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a mistaken identities, opposites attract story with a diverse cast of characters you can’t help rooting for!

I really wanted to love this book, but this book wasn't for me. I definitely can see some of patrons enjoying this book though, so I will be recommending it for purchase at my library. Although this book wasn't my favorite, I could see it becoming popular among my patrons.

The Name Drop by Susan Lee
4.5 stars
I was given a ARC by Netgalley and Harlequin/Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.
Going into this book, I knew little to nothing about the plot beyond the basic premise, but was more than pleasantly surprised that this book was as quick and witty as it was!
This book follows Jessica and Elijah as they accidentally swap lives for a summer because they have the same Korean name. It very much had a Parent Trap x K-drama air to it and it was such a fun read!
I found the characters to be likable, and the romance was very cute!
I also liked the dynamic aspect of these characters and the growth they showed throughout the book with the many challenges they faced!
Would definitely recommend for readers who want a lighthearted summer romance set in NYC with some tough times and tender moments of falling in love too!
Altogether just a very fun solid summer fling read!

I recently finished reading this book, and overall, I found it to be a compelling and well-written story. The characters were fully realized and complex, and the plot was engaging and kept me interested throughout.

However, there were a few sections of the book that I found to be slow-moving, and at times I felt that the pacing could have been improved. Additionally, I would have liked to see a bit more development in some of the supporting characters, who at times felt somewhat one-dimensional. And also some sentences dragged to long and didn’t make sene

Despite these minor criticisms, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it to others. The author's writing style is strong, and the story is ultimately a satisfying one. While it may not be a perfect book, it's still a great read overall. And i also want to compliment how easy it was to get through finished reading in a couple of hours

Thank you inkward/ and harlequin for this Earc, will be published on netgalley and goodreads

3.5 stars. This is a cute, multi-cultural take on "The Prince and the Pauper," in which the Elijah (the Prince) is the heir to a huge Korean tech company and Jessica (the Pauper) is a working class Korean-American whose college aspirations are limited by her family's financial situation. When their Korean names are switched upon arrival in New York City, Elijah is assumed to be one of ten summer worker-bee interns and Jessica is whisked away in a limousine to serve in the Executive Leadership program (aka "keeping the rebellious child under control").

Once the two MCs figure out the reason for the mix-up, they decide to continue the ruse, mostly at Elijah's urging. He loves the freedom of exploring the City without his family's surveillance and the friendships he makes with the other interns. Jessica is more cautious, knowing that she has more to lose than Elijah, but she goes along with him because it is her opportunity to shine professionally and possibly earn a college scholarship. Plus she thinks Elijah is hot. What could go wrong (besides everything)?

The Name Drop is a breezy, predictable read. I appreciated learning about Korean business culture, traditions and cuisines. The differences between Elijah's and Jessica's family dynamics are incisively explored. The romance is marred slightly by Jessica's tendency to overshare when she's nervous, which Elijah considers "adorable" but is one of my least favorite heroine clichés. Also Elijah is supposed to be a selfish asshole who learns How to Be a Good Person, but while he keeps telling the reader about his dickishness, a far more altruistic person is shown. Those little niggles aside, this is a charming YA romcom with a well-deserved HEA.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for review.

I flew through these pages and swooned the entire time. It’s fun and pacey but I also loved what it said about classism and and misogyny.

“It’s time for all of our hard work to pay off. And it’s time to finish everything I’ve started with these glass slippers and fake identity.”

This cover though!! 🥹💕😍🥰 The Name Drop is a fun YA romance that takes place over a summer internship in New York! I looooved the characters and the fun twist on the prince and pauper story. I also appreciated the commentary on different issues like misogyny in the workplace.

what i loved:
• workplace romance
• kdrama vibes
• dual point of views
• wealthy Korean heir

I enjoyed this quick and easy read! Thank you Susan Lee for writing my new favorite cozy read. Can’t wait to buy a physical copy when it comes out next month! Also, I want the movie adaptation asap! 🍿🎬

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the the arc!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Name Drop releases September 12, 2023

This is a very slow burn workplace romance, with a case of mistaken/swapped identities!

Jessica and Elijah both have the same Korean name, and both happen to be solo travelling to NYC for an internship at the same company for the summer: Haneul Corporation (Korea’s second largest technology company).
Jessica’s father works at Haneul Corporation, and they're no stranger to knowing what it’s like to struggle financially. Whereas, Elijah is both the CEO’s son and heir of the company, and comes from a sheltered life with a lot of privilege and wealth.

Having the same Korean name quickly proves to be an obstacle, right from the moment they check into their flight, all the way to their accommodations and their first day at work. There’s a clear discrepancy on how they’re treated, from the first class vs economy flights, to the personal driver vs shuttle bus, to the lavish Brownstone vs a shared apartment with all the other interns.

As Jessica and Elijah keep bumping into each other, they soon realize what is going on… but what if this is the best for both of them in the long run? Jessica has always wanted the ability to excel in a position like this and garner the right connections, and Elijah has no desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, but would rather get the opportunity to explore, meet friends, and really get a sense for what is it he’d like to do with his life.

Throughout, there’s large discussions on misogyny in workplace environments, as well as classism, and the pressure of needing to have everything in our lives figured out to the T by a certain age. These types of conversations are so important to have, and I liked how it’s being weeded into the YA sphere, especially with Asian leads, since I know all to well the cultural expectations that can come with that alone.

Something that surprised me though was how this paid internship was described as being so prestigious and hard to get into, but at the beginning, it didn’t seem like the interns were there to do much at all, and many of them were using work hours to explore the city instead.

The romance here is on the tamer side (great if you don’t enjoy anything explicit), but it also takes a back seat to the main plot and takes while to develop, so by the time any love declarations are made, it’s quite hard to actually believe.

All in all, not too bad. I can see what the message was trying to convey, but at the same time, I do wish there would have been more of a change that happened within Haneul Corporation in terms of a better work environment.

I enjoyed this book! It’s a cute romance that begins with mistaken identities. I thought the characters were likable and relatable. I like how they both learned more about themselves during their summer and how they grow individually.

Showstopping!!!!

Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

After hearing great things about SEOULMATES by this author, I was so excited to get approved for this eARC! Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy it:( We follow Jessica—an incoming intern—and Elijah—the son of the CEO of the company—who have the same Korean name and end up getting mixed up and living out each other’s summer to experience how the other half lives. There is a lot of discussion of money and its benefits and downfalls, which was nice to see from the perspective of each party. I was in a reading slump and picked this up in fits and starts, so that could have contributed to to why I didn’t love it. I didn’t feel attached to the characters, and their romance didn’t feel authentic either; they didn’t have many *romantic* interactions so it didn’t feel real. Also, part of the plot is that Jessica is posing as an executive intern and Elijah is on a team of entry-level interns and they’re putting together an event, but when it comes time to put it on, it’s overshadowed by the third-act conflict and we don’t get to see it play out to the extent I wish we had. I think with more development, this could have been a solid YA rom-com, but it didn’t hit the mark for me.

i had higher hopes for this book but it was another underwhelming read.

elijah and jessica have the same korean name and the name swap starts at the airport when jessica is mistakenly put in first class and elijah is placed in economy. that simple mistake launches them into a series of events where they both see how the other side lives, as elijah comes from money and jessica doesn't. they figure out what happened after their first day at haneul and decide to keep the name swap, naming it operation name drop. they both prove to themselves and their parents exactly what they're capable of, if they were given the opportunity.

both elijah and jessica have high expectations placed on them so they can carry on a legacy or get a leg up in the world, respectively. neither really wants that. elijah hates the idea that he has to become ceo one day because his sister isn't allowed to and he doesn't have the passion for it. but because he is chaebol, he has to. jessica doesn't come from much and has to work for everything she wants because unlike elijah, her family doesn't have millions to throw around like that. elijah learns the things he's capable of as a regular intern at his father's company and jessica learns the ugly side of corporate.

overall, the story was there, but it also took 40% to get past background and the setup. i almost gave up on this book because of that.

The name drop was such a cute love story. I really enjoyed the story between the two main characters.

This YA romance is a delightful twist on the classic prince and the pauper story. It alternates between the perspectives of Jessica, a middle-class Korean American girl, and Elijah, a wealthy Korean heir to a CEO. When they meet at a summer internship, they decide to swap lives and experience how the other half lives. Along the way, they face challenges from their demanding fathers, their co-workers, and their own hearts. This book is full of charming characters and sweet moments that will make you smile and cheer for Jessica and Elijah. Although the plot is predictable and follows some tropes, it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. The only thing I wished for was more resolution between Elijah and his father at the end of the summer. Susan Lee is a talented writer who knows how to craft a captivating YA romance. I can’t wait to read more of her books. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Susan Lee, Net Galley and Inkyard Press for the DRC of this book.

Told in dual points of view, The Name Drop was a delightful coming-of-age YA read that I could hardly put down. It's like a mix of Freaky Friday and the Olsen twins' It Takes Two set in the world of modern-day summer internships, and I really dug this one. It's fun with such a unique story that made it so freaking easy to get sucked into Elijah and Jessica's tale and eventual romance.

This was a quick and cute read about Jessica and Elijah accidentally and then knowingly switching places at their internship in order to experience the summer that they each want. I did not like the instant love since both Jessica and Elijah flipped between love and then poking at each other since Elijah was rich and privileged while Jessica was not. The internship was pushed aside to focus on the romance which was a little disappointing since I was expecting more regarding the internship aspect. But I still enjoyed the story and learning more about Korean culture. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

I loved the glimpse into Korean culture! The characters are relatable while giving insight into the struggles of earning your way in a male dominated corporation. I enjoyed the tenacity of the main female character and her kind heart. This is a great novel for young adults who are struggling to find their own path.

This was pretty cute. I thought the set-up and premise was fun, and it ended up being a sweet story.

I thought it was well written and an interesting story but I do think there were too many things going on so some of it felt a bit unfinished. There were things that felt totally unnecessary in the end because we never got full resolutions (or they were off-page) for some problems and roadblocks the characters faced.

The relationship between Elijah and Jessica was sweet and simple - their third act breakup didn't totally make sense to me, but I enjoyed where we ended up.

Overall, I did enjoy myself while I was reading this, I just wish we had less secondary storylines to make the main ones really shine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was really cute! I would recommend this for younger-YA readers or anyone who enjoys that style of contemporary romance. It has a cute KDrama premise, but doesn’t require the reader to know or be familiar with those tropes to enjoy it.

It’s light, fun, and easy to read. It doesn’t concern itself with being super realistic, but it’s not outlandish either. I think it straddles the line of being a “cute, fun summer read” really well.

Jessica and Elijah are both great protagonists with their own voices and their own wants and needs. Additionally, the story pacing blends the romance and the plot together well, with consistent story beats and no pointless scenes or long, tedious descriptions.

I only had two notable complaints about this book, though they didn’t detract too much from the simple enjoyment:

1. The first 50 pages definitely suffer from what I call over-edited-itis. There’s a distinctly different flavor to those pages that reeks of too many people contributing to the text, and there are a few shockingly on-the-nose and blunt passages. Worry not, the writing style evens out quickly enough! The rest of the book’s writing is much smoother and less noticeable.

2. A lot of things happen off-page. A lot of the *conclusion* happens off-page. This was kind of disappointing to me, especially some of the final revelations and decisions, because those would have been so emotionally impactful to see play out.

Overall, I’m really glad I read this book. The premise hooked me so strongly that I reached out of my typical genres to try this one and it didn’t disappoint!