The classic case of mistaken identity makes an adorable appearance in this book. Jessica and Elijah have the same Korean name, and end up getting their planes, and lodging, and internships mixed up. The way they reason it all away before figuring it out and deciding to roll with it (Operation Name Drop) is hilarious. Their adventures in New York are adorable, and they go through so much great character development in the process. It's super cute, and calls attention to discrimination and toxic office environments, what's not to love?

LOVE IT!! IF YOU LOVE SEOUL MATES PLEASE READ THE NAME DROP! I WILL READ ANYTHING THAT SUSAN LEE WRITES!!

This was a cute story and I really enjoyed the premise. I loved the beginning with the introduction to the characters, Jessica and Elijah. I thought that the Name Drop was really interesting and was a great hook to the story. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel like the characters grew a lot as the story progressed. I believe that they both benefited from the experience but neither character showed a lot of personal growth at the end. I wish that over the course of the summer we got to see both Elijah and Jessica mature and discuss things like work ethic, race, and money. I think there was an opportunity missed by the author to have these characters discuss these topics and see the real fallout of their actions since it was glossed over with a time jump.

A cute story about mistaken identity. When Jessica and Elijah both begin their internships in New York they realize very quickly that they are not where they are supposed to be. Due to having the same Korean name they decide that this switch is harmless and that being in the other person's shoes could be fun for the summer. but keeping up with the switch may prove harder than they expected.

Overall, this was a cute book. We enjoyed the friendship and eventual romance between Jessica and Elijah. However, there were a lot of moments for discrepancies within this book. It seemed as if the characters of this book should have figured out about the switching a lot easier than they did. If I was Elijah's dad, I would be firing all of my security. It just did make sense. This is a book that if you don't read too much into is a lot of fun. Seeing the characters be a fish out of water in their respective environments was enjoyable.

I wish that we spent more time with the characters at the event they had been planning through a good majority of the book as it could have been a good moment to really have the characters deal with some good conflict and conflict resolution.

Understanding that this book is a work of fiction not everything has to make sense, but it just felt that a lot of major details were overlooked and pushed aside for the sake of trying to move a plot along that also didn't seem very plausible.

This book was everything I would have hoped from Susan lee. It is a YA book in both content and age of the characters. It is a love letter to New York City and puts you right in the mind of two young people trying to find out who they are separate from their family ties. It was fun, relatable and had the HEA. I would recommend it to anyone and its a perfect addition to 23in23 trying to get more BIPOC authors out there where they deserve to be.

SUSAN LEE THIS IS SO GOOD OMG! I love the diverse books I am getting to read on here! This book was suggested to me by my K-Pop and K-drama-loving coworker. It was really good and kept me absolutely hooked. I enjoyed every second.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advanced copy!

Jessica has worked her whole life to stand out. And with this opportunity to be a summer intern at Haneul Corporation in New York City, she's hoping to finally prove herself. Elijah, son of the CEO of Haneul Corp, has never wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. As he continues to rebel and cause trouble, his father sends him off to be an intern for his company during the summer to discipline Elijah. Jessica and Elijah's paths collide, they grow closer to each other, and it lead to a unexpected experience in New York.

This was an entertaining read! Jessica and Elijah were fun characters to root for. I also liked learning a little bit more about Korean culture through them. The book does a good job showing all the social problems and misogyny that still exist in the world today. Overall, it was a great read!

I so wanted to love the book. The characters were cute at times and their relationship had its adorable moments. The MMC seems so out of touch that it was almost painful at times and not cute. they are so far apart I would look forward to reading this again to see if my opinion changes.

This story was so much fun! I feel like mixed up identity can very rarely come off as believable. But Susan Lee did a fantastic job. Despite them being different genders, they have the same Korean name. One is the son of the mega rich CEO, the other the daughter of a lower middle class employee of said CEO. When things go all wonky at the beginning (which is hysterically believable!) Elijah has his eyes opened to how sheltered he is and how he knows nothing of the real world. Jessica is certain there has been a huge mistake! When they meet up and discover the truth, Elijah wants to roll with it. Jessica reluctantly does so. What ensues is sweet and encouraging. They work together to pull together a fantastic event and wow everyone. Including the Uber strick CEO father.

I really enjoyed this story! It was so sweet and a lot of fun to get lost in this story! It is well done and a delight to jump into!

CW: There are several F words and other swears. So it is more 4.5 stars for that.

I loved this book! It was so fun to read. I really liked that this book was different than your typical meet cutes. It was so relatable to read about Jessica being in an internship and having a very surreal meet cute. I'm going to miss these two! Definitely add it to your tbr!

Overview:
👩🏻🧑🏻 Korean characters
💼 Summer internship
🪪 Mistaken identity
💞 Summer fling
🏙️ New York City setting

Synopsis: Elijah Ri is the heir to Hanuel Corporation, so his dad ships him to NYC for a summer executives internship. Jessica Lee sets off for New York for the summer to intern at Hanuel Corporation with high hopes of receiving a letter of recommendation by the end of the summer and wants more than anything to make her dad proud. Both Elijah and Jessica have the same Korean name and are forced to meet in New York to untangle the mess made of traveling and getting their housing mixed up for the summer. Elijah sees an opportunity for him to explore what he really wants to do with his life if he stays in Jessica’s place, and Jessica sees a once in a lifetime opportunity to train as an executive if she stays in Elijah’s place. Two teenagers from different worlds switch spots for an unforgettable summer of self-discovery and a chance at love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/ 5 There were definitely aspects of this book that I liked, but overall it fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed Elijah’s POV more than Jessica’s for his edginess and the humor in his narration. The book highlighted the gender inequities in the workplace as well as in Asian culture, and it’s definitely something I love to see addressed in YA novels. I really liked the premise of them switching places for the summer and then working together. I had a hard time with some mature content being written in what I felt was surface-level writing. I couldn’t imagine Jessica being as headstrong and I think she was supposed to be, and I wish she was more developed as a character.

this one had a fun and promising premise (mistaken identity that leads to discussions of privilege) and I think it executed that element well, but it lost me when it came to the romance. i’ve found that a lot of books I’ve read recently rely on the tropes alone to create the chemistry, and it hasn’t been satisfying to me.

thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Told in dual points of view, this was a fun twist on a classic mistaken identity trope. From very different backgrounds, and with very different parental expectations, Elijah and Jessica both get an eye-opening summer experience. I like that they both show growth during their summer internship and even after things come crashing down—as they inevitably must.

The supporting cast of characters is also interesting and well-rounded. They serve as more than just set dressing.

Particularly interesting is the struggle to be female in a company in which a strong cultural preference for male hierarchy is present. Battling the slights—intentional or not—becomes an important secondary plot point. As does the rather superior attitude the corporate types take toward the interns and their value to the company.

While the budding relationship between Elijah and Jessica is an important factor in the story, I found it refreshing that it wasn’t the be-all and end-all of the story. I like the misunderstandings that occur—and must be resolved—as they explore their very different lifestyles and backgrounds.

Overall, the resolution is satisfying. You can’t help but root for these people.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Sexism, some racism and classism. Deception. Cursing, including a couple of F-bombs. Kissing.

Who Might Like This Book:
If you like mistaken identities, this is a fun one. I think the publisher’s suggested age range is good. Their grade level might be referring to reading level; otherwise it’s a bit low.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/09/an-assortment-of-new-releases.html

Susan Lee has now become one of my favorite authors. Her characters stick with you and have such unique voices and stories. The fact that Jessica took so long to figure out there was mistaken identity was kind of ridiculous but at the same time funny. Seeing the different worlds within NYC was a lot of fun. It is the melting pot of the country. I would definitely recommend this book and anything else by Susan Lee.

3.5*

This was very cute and I did enjoy it, the missing half star is only due to a lack of resolution I felt there was between love interests.
(They have a big blow out of an argument, essentially about their places in the world and how they'll never agree on how the world works, but this just gets side stepped in classic romcom fashion. To be fair, they do actually both grow and mature during the sidestep, but a resolution still doesn't get fully explored.)

This is one of the only cases of mistaken identity and a "freaky friday" sort of swap that actually makes sense. (The author doesn't drag it on for too long, the MCs have a strategy meeting about it promptly.) Jessica and Elijah are two people trying to find their own path in life, two young adults trying to make their way into a future of their own creation, and becoming partners in crime along the way. There is a lot of drama and self discovery along the way, with a healthy dose of "these people all deserve to be slapped" entitlement from others and learning to do better from the characters we're cheering for.

Overall, if you like KDrama happenstance/drama/resolution and a Devil Loves Prada storyline/rags-to-riches-to-proud-of-yourself, this is the perfect book for you.

Notes:
This has indirect Korean influence, it's not an immersion in Korean culture, more a "Korean American in NYC" experience.
Also, the paragraph length can drag on quite a ways, so a bookmark or highlight might be needed to help break it up.

“I’m sorry I loved missing you.” Oh Elijah.

This is a perfect teen romcom. The set up of our mains having the same Korean name and causing a mixup is fun, Jessica and Elijah are great leads and our supporting case is fun as well. I had a heck of a good time reading. The balance of humor, emotion, real world issue and romance was excellently done, Susan Lee is such a good writer! I haven’t yet read her previous book Seoulmates but I’m changing that soon and look forward to whatever she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book came along at exactly the right time for me. I’ve been battling a sinus infection, so I really needed a sweet, fun story, and THE NAME DROP totally delivered. It’s got some tension, for sure, as it explores the pressure of expectations from both Elijah and Jessica’s families. But on the whole, it’s got a starry-eyed feel to it. Jessica gets to live her dream as an executive intern, living in a luxurious apartment and running a team of interns. Elijah gets to explore New York City with people his own age who have no idea who he is. He has control of his time and actually gets to make friends.

I loved the pacing of the relationship between Elijah and Jessica, too. It felt like they hit all the right moments, from initial distrust to grudging partnership to friends to more. And their connection felt really genuine to me.

Overall, I think this was a really sweet, fun romance featuring a summer internship and teens figuring out their life plans beyond high school.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Thank you Netgalley, Inkyard Press, and Susan Lee for allowing me to read this ARC. 🎮

"Elijah, grow up and get in line."
"What if it's not what I want?" Elijah asks. *And for the first time, I realize he's just as young as I am. That at this age, how can we possibly know what we want for the rest of our lives?*

This book follows Jessica and Elijah, two young adults who are interning at Haneul, a gaming company. But they come for opposite worlds and find themselves in a switched opportunity thanks to their shared Korean name.

This book reads like a combination of Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap and it was a joy to read. I love a good fluffy young adult book to break up my more popular reading genres as a palette cleanser and this absolutely did the trick, but not without making me think about my own young adult life when I was the characters age. I loved that Susan draws full circle on this notion that as a young adult, we barely know what we like and don't like, so how could we possibly know what we want to do with our lives or commit to huge responsibilities when we've barely scratched the surface of what is out there. And not only that, but that change, no matter what stage of life you're in is OK. It's an adventure, so take the jump. The character themselves are cute and relatable from their feelings in social settings, to the wonder of exploring a new place and taking it all in. The romance is the equivalent to the young puppy love you might have experienced as a young adult. An absolute joy of a read, I will for sure continue to keep Susan Lee in my TBR for future works.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🍭 YA, no spice, but some kissing 💋
Tropes
• Unequal Social Status
• Mistaken Identity
• Young Love

✨ Book Review ✨

A big thank you to @inkyardpress @netgalley for the #gifted copy of #TheNameDrop !!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 The Name Drop by Susan Lee

A young woman and young man swap identities during a summer internship.

What to expect:

💋 Romance
🔄 Identity Switch Up
👔 Office Romance
💝 Friends to Lovers

Quick thoughts:

✨ Name switch up was unique.
✨ Grass is always greener on the other side.
✨ Side characters were cute.
✨ Wasn’t feeling the chemistry.

Overall thoughts:

Eager to take full advantage of her summer internship, Jessica Lee isn’t quite sure what to expect from the Haneul Corporation but it certainly wasn’t a first class airplane seat or her own fully stocked private brownstone in NYC. Something can’t be right.

Elijah Ri is also heading to NYC for his own form of internship or really corporate training to be the next CEO of Haneul Corporation after his father but why is he sitting in the worst seat on the plane and sharing a small apartment with ten other interns?

What starts out as a simple mixup of their shared Korean name becomes something way more as the summer progresses.

I have mixed feeling about this book. I think because I really wanted to like it more than I did but I honestly felt bored with it about a quarter of the way through.

It started off interesting with the idea of a mixup but really at any point along the way either one of them or both of them could’ve set it straight which bothered me a bit! Although, I was relieved when they fully realized what was happening and decided to team up instead of just letting things continue to happen without speaking up.

There is a sweet romance in this one but I just wasn’t feeling the chemistry. I wanted to sooo bad! 😂 I couldn’t get into it though and it ultimately fell flat for me.

The characterizations were a little off for me too, especially with Elijah. He’s from South Korea which I loved and I was hoping so see more of that culture shine through him but he comes off very American. There were times I thought he was actually from NYC.

I liked how classism and sexism were both addressed throughout the story. I also liked the grass is always greener on the other side aspect and getting to see how the other side lives.

This wasn’t my favorite read but it could be yours so I’d say definitely give it a try and let me know what you think!

3.5/5 Stars

The Name Drop follows Jessica Lee as she embarks to New York for an internship opportunity. While on the way there a series of mishaps occur, a first class upgrade, a personal driver waiting for her, a high end living arrangement and the continuous bumping in with a handsome fellow Korean American. Turns out, Jessica and Elijah Ri have the same Korean Name and all of her accommodations were actually meant for him!

This book reads like a Korean Drama, which as a Korean Drama fan, was a good time. In addition to being a fast paced, cute little rom com - there were societal issues that were addressed as well. A lot having to do with Jessica being a women in the work force which I think was resolved in a way that is palpable for a YA novel. Of the two characters, I really like Elijah a lot. I love reading a "how the other lives" story and it was fun to see his experience.

Thank you to NetGally and Inkyard Press for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.