Review: The Name Drop by Susan Lee

I received this book for free from Bookish First, the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Name Drop by Susan Lee
Published by Inkyard Press on September 12, 2023
Genres: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
Source: Bookish First, the publisher
Format: Hardcover
My Rating:
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Blurb:

From the author of Seoulmates comes a story of mistaken identities, the summer of a lifetime, and a love to risk everything for. 

When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer. 

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself. 

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations. 

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

My Review

I really enjoyed the book Seoulmates by this author and so I was very excited to get my hands on this one. In my head I had an idea what it was about, and yes I’d read the synopsis, but it wasn’t what I was thinking. But that’s okay, because I still liked the actual story-line. It was fun getting to see two characters switch places, but instead of two boys or two girls, it was a boy and a girl, because of a name. Because Elijah didn’t want to get all the special treatment of people knowing who his father was, that is part of what helped the whole thing actually take place.

Oh how I wish just once someone would make the mistake for me to get a first class seat on a plane like Jessica got to start out with in the story. It was definitely something to make you wonder why her father didn’t like the company he worked for, and why with his own background he would begrudge her getting this opportunity. Things did come clear later on.

Elijah being able to get over his upbringing of a rich boy who had whole wings of houses to himself seemed a little unbelievable when he ended up in a small place with 9 other people and didn’t really complain or anything. Again though, I think maybe getting to have friends the way he did there, without them judging him based on his background, that probably was a big help too. He definitely made more gaffs with how he acted towards Jessica and the others in certain ways, but especially with her, after he convinced her to keep the switch going.

But Jessica also had a huge chip on her shoulder and some issues she needed to deal with when she talked to others. Seeing the way the company was still so old-fashioned, even with the daughter of their CEO did point out how many places/companies are still that way. So I feel like there were a lot of things brought out in the story that are important to think about in that way too. I liked how it ended up, how things might have seemed to be all perfect and a solution found, but the characters did what they knew was best for themselves. Although I did feel the way things changed for Elijah’s family almost seemed out of nowhere and could have used some more details with that.

Once again I really enjoyed this author’s story and can’t wait to share with my students, as well as read whatever is coming next from her!