Title: THE NAME GAME
Author: BETH O’LEARY
ISBN: 9781529437942
Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 336
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start, only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.
Charlie couldn’t be happier to take the job of farm shop manager on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer. She’s grieving, a little lost, and in desperate need of a new beginning.
Jones has come out of a difficult breakup and is looking forward to some peace away from the noise of his city life. Moving to Ormer couldn’t have come at a better time.
But when Charlie Jones and, ahem, Charlie Jones both turn up at Ormer’s one and only farm shop, claiming to have been offered the role of manager, everyone is baffled.
How could this have happened?
And just who is the real Charlie Jones?
Official Summary
08 June 2026
This is not a book I would normally have chosen for myself, as romance is not usually my genre of choice. However, I received a review copy from Jonathan Ball Publishers and felt obliged to read it and share my thoughts. Well, don’t tell anyone, but I actually ended up enjoying it.
Charlie Jones needs a change, so when she is offered a job as the farm store manager on the island of Ormer, it seems like exactly the fresh start she has been looking for. What could be better than fresh sea air, stunning scenery, and the opportunity to begin again?
Unfortunately, upon arrival, she discovers that she is not the only Charlie Jones on the island. A man with the same name has also been offered the position. Somehow, both Charlies have been hired for the same job.
Agreeing to share the role—and the salary—for two months, they both decide to stay on the island, determined to make this new life their own.
What follows is a classic enemies-to-lovers story, made all the more entertaining by the interference of a close-knit island community that makes it nearly impossible for either Charlie to find their footing. The quirky residents add plenty of charm, humour, and heart to the story.
This is a sweet, feel-good novel with a satisfying ending that offers more than just a romance between the two Charlies. This is where it becomes difficult to discuss the plot without venturing into spoiler territory. I’ll simply say that there are a few unexpected twists that broaden the story beyond the central romance and add an extra layer of warmth and emotional depth.
The story unfolds through emails and diary entries written by both Charlies, interspersed with flashbacks that gradually reveal their individual backstories. Only towards the end does Beth O’Leary reveal how both Charlies ended up on the island in the first place. I really enjoyed how long this information was withheld. When the truth finally comes to light, it arrives completely out of left field and leaves you rethinking everything you thought you knew.
This is not a serious or demanding read. Instead, it is a light, fun, and heartwarming story with a happy ending that leaves you smiling. It has all the charm of a Hallmark movie, but with enough surprises and emotional moments to keep it engaging throughout.
Also by Beth O’Leary
THE FLAT SHARE
Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home, you need to throw the rulebook out the window…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Beth studied English at university before going into children’s publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. While I may not have selected this book for myself, it proved to be a pleasant change from my crime thrillers. What is your genre of choice? I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time… Happy Reading!
