The Name Game by Beth O’Leary was fantastic. It starts off like an easy-reading romance with flashbacks of deeper character backstories. There’s a cozy small island setting, and a bit of mystery surrounding the two people called Charlie Jones.

As the story goes on, the twists and character connections did not disappoint. I had to take notes at some points about what I thought was going on. I love how she structures the book to keep you curious and guessing about what’s going on.

This was my favorite Beth O’Leary book since The No-Show.

• Seasonal Vibe: Late Summer/Early Fall - takes place August-October
• Travel Location: Small fictional island inspired by the Isle of Sark.
• Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Literary
• Read: August 11-16, 2026
• Format: eBook/Audiobook tandem
• 416 pages • 🎧 Good Audiobook