Title: By Any Other Name
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: August 20, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Fascinating • Provocative • Dense

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.

In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world’s greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.

In the present, playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theater. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?

💭 T H O U G H T S

Anytime Jodi Picoult announces a new book, I am going to be interested simply because she is such a skilled writer and never shies away from writing about polarizing topics. Reading the synopsis for By Any Other Name I wasn't sure how her 2024 release would land for me personally. I have very little interest in Shakespeare and minimal knowledge about the theatre world. Despite those factors I knew I still wanted to read it, especially given her foray into historical fiction.

First off, this novel is incredibly well researched and skillfully written. Told through the voices of two women centuries apart, this novel tackles the historical and contemporary challenges faced by women and their plight to receive the recognition they deserve. Picoult creates two vivid timelines, two separate settings, and two distinct casts of characters, while challenging Shakespeare's authorship and offering up an alternative theory.

While I appreciated the rich historical detail and thought the dual timelines element worked well in the beginning, the contemporary storyline eventually took me out of the story. Some of Melina's actions and choices felt entirely inconsistent with what Picoult is trying to do with this narrative. I understand this timelines is needed to showcase how women continue to have to work harder to be recognized, yet it could have taken a different route and easily achieved the same goal.

By Any Other Name is unlike any other of Picoult's previous novels. Personally, I was less engaged and it took me over a month to get through, yet overall I enjoyed what this story attempts to do. I have a feeling opinions will be very split with this one, especially for anyone who goes in hoping for something similar to her previous contemporary novels. The extensive author's note at the end if a must read to offer more context and her thought process in crafting this story.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• Shakespeare
• the Elizabethan era
• stories about resilient women

⚠️ CW: misogyny, sexism, gaslighting, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, physical abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, infidelity, adult/minor relationship, epidemic/pandemic, pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, death, death of child, death of parent, grief, sexual content, classism, antisemitism, alcohol, alcoholism, toxic relationship

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Life as a woman is not without risks."

"There once was a girl who became invisible so that her words might not be."

"History is written by those in power."

"Grief was the tax of having something precious."

I found this novel to be extraordinary!
Well-researched, inspiring and beautifully crafted.
Told in dual intertwining timelines, from the Elizabethan era's Emilia to the present day Melina, a young woman whose lineage traces back to Emilia. The story explores the numerous challenges faced by women across centuries.
The entertaining who really wrote Shakespeare theory is compelling and the thought that some of his work might have been written by a woman is fascinating.
Highly Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

By Any Other Name invites readers into two worlds. Jodi Picoult crafts two distinct settings, groups of characters, and storylines with satisfying parallels between each. While the author is, no doubt, skilled, I found myself trudging uphill to finish this novel. A technically good book but not the most engaging Picoult I've read. 3 Stars.

I cannot believe how lucky I am to have gotten this ARC! I absolutely love Jodi! Her writing is absolute perfection.

Emilia becomes a mistress. Not by her choice. She is writing plays and poems in secret. She asks William Shakespeare to sell them in his name. Tragedy strikes Emilia and she is heartbroken.

This story has dual timelines and in the more current timeline we have another writer named Melina. Her play gets bad reviews that has her convinced if a man had written it that wouldn't be happening.

This is a novel of perfection. It is very well researched and well written. I would highly recommend this novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and penguin house for this arc!

This was such a fascinating and enthralling book. It was so unlike Picoult's other more contemporary-set books that I've read, and I quite loved the subject matter and direction. Inspired by the theories that William Shakespeare was not the sole author (or, in fact, an author at all) of the plays and poems we currently ascribe to him, Picoult puts forth the idea that it was perhaps Emilia Bassano who authored some of these texts instead. Picoult follows Emilia's real life, as far as she could piece together historical timelines and evidence, through decades to plant the seeds to challenge Shakespeare's authorship in sixteenth-century England. Simultaneously, we also witness Emilia's modern-day descendant, Melina, struggle as a young playwright in the still highly male-dominated industry.

I adored Emilia's POVs. They read almost like something I'd expect from authors such as Philippa Gregory or Signe Pike, who have developed careers and notoriety for writing in this sphere of historical fiction set in the far past. I felt that Picoult's research and encapsulation of life in this era was impeccable. I loved the way she also explored Emilia's life as an outsider in many ways to the typical upper-class English court--she was Italian, Jewish, and sold at a young age to be a much older married man's companion (re: mistress). Picoult is clear about where she takes liberties in her historical retelling, but I truly loved how everything slotted in so neatly. And, given the evidence presently so clearly, I would 100% accept Emilia as author to at least some of Shakespeare's works.

Where the novel fell apart for me was in the present-day timeline. While I empathized with Melina's struggles as a young playwright trying to make a name for herself, the whole situation she allowed herself to get into with Andre and their gender-swapping was a bit...far-fetched. I totally understand the nod to Shakespeare and its commentary on male voices being given more authority, and Picoult does a great job at unpacking all that...but it certainly did not endear me to see Melina (a straight white woman) using her marginalized best friend (also struggling with his own creative endeavours) to further her own career. I also found the switches to Jasper's POV jarring and unnecessary; I wish we had stayed solely in Melina's voice, as it felt like Jasper's voice detracted from the overall theme and argument Picoult was trying to make.

Overall, a solid read that offers interesting insight into the question of Shakespeare's authorship and presents compelling evidence to Emilia's role. I would love if Picoult returned to writing historical fiction like this in the future--I will definitely be on the lookout!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is out now!

Told through two timelines, current day and the late 1500s, we meet Melina Green and Emilia Bassano. Melina is a playwright who has submitted a play about her ancestor Emilia, telling the story of her life and authorship of many plays credited to William Shakespeare. Emilia, of course, is the ancestor and original playwright.

This story spans Melina's experience with the theater, and Emilia's life as a whole. The chapters are long, and there's a lot happening, but never so much that you get lost in it or confused. Some of the older language was distracting, but it made sense for authenticity. I found myself feeling for the characters, and for me, that's always the mark of a well-told story.

CW: gaslighting, domestic violence, plague, pregnancy, miscarriage, death, death of a child

In this story of two women -- a modern playwright named Melina and her late 16th-century ancestor Emiliana -- I absolutely loved the historical point of view. Not only was the character herself engaging and dynamic, but I came away with a much stronger appreciation for the debate around Shakespeare's authorship of the plays that bear his name. However, the modern-day character and her story fell somewhat flat for me.

Usually I am a fan of multiple points of view, but in this case I would have preferred sticking with one and having this a strictly historical novel.

That said, Jodi Picoult is such a skilled writer, researcher, and observer of the human condition that I still recommend the book -- and I imagine there are others who will prefer the modern-day character.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

In two timelines, Melina, a modern day playwright writes a play that may not be performed, until a friend submits it under a male pseudonym. The story of Emiliana, a woman of the 1580s, and her encounters with William Shakespeare mirrors the desire to express herself and to ensure the world knows her works. Excellent portraits of two different, yet similar women...recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

By Any Other Name is now one of my favourite Jodi Picoult novels. Maybe it is the English teacher's part in me. Call me, a nerd!

I enjoyed the Shakespearean references that are woven all through the book and the poetry that is written by one of our two leading ladies- Emilia Bassano. This book will not be everyone's cup of tea since the author's previous works are usually set in our modern world. I believe the risk paid off big in having a dual timeline in which our two female protagonists- Emilia and Melina, both have to hide their playwright skills. I liked both characters equally but the historical fiction nerd really enjoyed how fast I landed into 16th century England and enjoyed my time there.


Publication Date 20/08/24
Goodreads review published 22/08/24

Jodi Picoult does not disappoint, I am very much enjoying this book. The characters are very interesting, the story is easy to follow. I am excited to share this book with other readers.

Loved it! I couldn’t read it fast enough. Although, it did take a couple of chapters before I was completely swept up in the Emilia Bassano storyline and life in the 1500’s. Reading Shakespeare in high school and university was never my favourite part of the curriculum but now I’m so intrigued. The historical research included in By Any Other Name casts such a fascinating light on Shakespeare’s questionable legacy. This is a must read!
Thank You to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Jodi Picoult for the opportunity to thoroughly devour this ARC.

Delighted to include this title in the August edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

This is 100% for my historical fiction girlies. It’s dense and detail focused for the longest time but once it gets going, it’s good!

Another winner from Jodi Picoult.

By Any Other Name spans two time periods, hundreds of years apart. I found I was equally invested in the characters Melina and Emilia in both stories. The book was meticulously researched and beautifully written. I didn’t want to put it down until I knew what happened to Melina and Emilia. Shakespeare plays a key role in both stories but you don’t have to be a fan of The Bard to enjoy and appreciate the story and its message.

I’ve long been a fan of Jodi Picoult, and have read all her novels. I was thrilled to have the chance to read her latest book, with thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Jodi Picoult for the advanced copy.

5 stars!

"By Any Other Name" by Jodi Picoult tells the stories of two amazing women: Emilia, who wrote Shakespeare's plays in 1581, and her present-day descendant, Melina. Picoult does a great job of blending these two timelines. However, at over five hundred pages, the book felt a bit too long and I sometimes lost interest.

The book is fresh, thought-provoking, and well-researched, celebrating women whose work deserves recognition. I especially enjoyed Melina’s story and found it easy to connect with both characters. Fans of Picoult and those looking for inspiring stories about women will love this book. During my time in university, I took Shakespeare class after Shakespeare class for my English degree and this book definitely reignited my love and interest for such a complex historical figure. The idea that Shakespeare didn't write some (or any) of his works isn't new, but Picoult definitely shines a fresh and exciting light on the idea.

Though both timelines are well-written, I think the book would have been stronger if it focused only on Emilia’s story. Melina’s story is interesting too, but having both made the book feel slower at times. Emilia's story was consistently more interesting and I found myself skipping through Melina's chapters to get back to Emilia.

Overall, "By Any Other Name" is a great read with interesting historical insights and Jodi Picoult's usual literary magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse Canada for an ARC of this book.

I always find three-star reads hard to review, the rating of this one isn’t a reflection of the author’s talent or writing capabilities. Many of Jodi Picoult’s books have been five-star reads for me. This is more about my personal preference and enjoyment of the book rather than the author’s writing style; poetry and Shakespeare are just not for me.

I loved the idea of the book about two women, who are playwrights, one in 1581 (Emilia) who is the true author of William Shakespeare’s plays and the other (Melina) is in the present and she’s the ancestor of Emilia. The two timeline narratives worked well for me and Jodi Picoult is the consummate storyteller as always, but this is a very long book at over five hundred pages and I found my attention waning throughout.

The majority of the book is in the earlier timeline and I think that is why it didn’t work for me. I’m not a big fan of Shakespeare but as always Picoult did a marvellous job with her research it was simply incredible and five hundred years later women are still struggling in the male-dominated world of publishing. Picoult deserves three stars for her writing ability and research alone. Where she lost me was the drag it was to read so much about the Shakespeare writing controversy, its long chapters slowed the pace so much. But I will always love her for her bravery in taking on tough topics of which she gets plenty of hate mail and pushback. Ms. Picoult don’t ever stop.

Another great read from Jodi Picoult! Jodi Picoult’s By Any Other Name is a captivating novel that weaves together the stories of two remarkable women across centuries. The book alternates between 1581, where Emilia Bassano secretly writes Shakespeare’s plays while hiding her identity, and the present day, where her descendant Melina Green faces similar struggles in the male-dominated world of theater. Both women grapple with the cost of artistic recognition and the sacrifices they must make for their work to be acknowledged.

Picoult’s storytelling shines as she deftly explores themes of ambition, identity, and legacy. The dual narratives not only highlight the historical and contemporary challenges faced by women in the arts but also offer a poignant reflection on what it means to leave a lasting impact. By Any Other Name is a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging read that will resonate with anyone interested in the intersections of gender, art, and history. Recommended!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Random House Canada in exchange for my honest review

I haven't read a Jodi Picoult novel since I was an early teen, and I remember those as well written and researched after school special type books. Gasp: school shooting, gasp: teen pregnancy, gasp: whatever My Sister's Keeper was... and this was also well written and researched but it hit way harder. Told in two timelines, By Any Other Name tells the story of Emilia in the late 1500's trying to make her voice heard in a world dominated by men and class, and then her descendent in current day dealing with much of the same bs. Yes, it was cheesy at some parts but honestly I learned so much and was mostly captivated by both narratives.

Thank you to the publishers and net galley for the e-arc.
Publication date: August, 20/2024

A captivating novel about two women, centuries apart, fighting to be heard—one of whom may be the real author of Shakespeare's plays—from the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Wish You Were Here.

This is an amazing novel that does a deep-dive into the validity of Shakespeare's works and who the true author might be.
It also sheds a spotlight onto the ongoing bias within the theater industry.
Emelia's character and story was the most compelling to me honestly and I found myself wanting to go back and read more about her. She was so beautifully crafted and complex and seems to have been born centuries earlier than she should have been. Melina's story was great as well and did a good job intertwining with Emelia’s showing how things can constantly change and yet in the ways of bias, stay the same.
Thank you for NetGalley for this Arc.

🌹 Jodi Picoult's latest novel, By Any Other Name, is tremendously well-written, with lyrical prose that at times mimics a Shakespearean style, adding a unique and engaging touch to a story that includes The Bard. Picoult's trademark twist is present, making readers see things from a different perspective than they were. Honestly, even the title works so well with the storyline! ✨

🌹By Any Other Name investigates the themes of marginalized voices in history, such as women and other races, women's poverty, and self-sacrifice. Shakespeare as a brand rather than a person is also explored and adds a fascinating piece to the story. It is clear that Picoult's depth of research and understanding of the subject matter is phenomenal. 🎭
📜While the story may not show as many sides to the topic as Picoult's other works typically have, it still offers a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience. The novel will lead you to ponder the authenticity of Shakespeare as a writer, sparking further curiosity and reflection. 🤔
📖 Would I recommend this book? Yes! It is a captivating and provocative read that will leave you questioning the authenticity of Shakespeare as a writer. If you read it with your book club and want some discussion guidance please let me know as I did a lot of work preparing for my book club.

🌟Note🌟: The idea of Shakespeare as a brand came up in my IRL Book Club discussion. It was not my idea but that of @donna.shortt100 and our club’s members all took to the idea, including me. 🌟🌟