The Name Game by Beth O'Leary
The Name Game by Beth O’Leary
I read “The Flatshare” by Beth O’Leary a few years back and enjoyed the characters and dialogue, so figured I’d give this one a shot. Unfortunately, I did not like this one very much, but I do still see potential in the author’s writing so I’d be happy to read other books by her down the line.
I did feel this book was important in chronicling a process of grief and coming to terms with harder truths about yourself in order to move forward. The author did a good job of showing the struggles and set-backs these characters have at times since you can’t change your mindset overnight.
This book had a situation that made it most difficult for me to enjoy. Both Charlies are going through pretty traumatic things and trying to start fresh. Rather than really helping themselves, they find themselves pulled to each other and it’s almost as if the other person is then “fixing” them. While I believe that you can look towards others for help and support, you should not be fully reliant on them to better yourself. Someone in the very first days of becoming sober should not be starting a new relationship.
My other issue was how this book was written. Each character is journaling and thus it is mostly written as streams of thoughts but then recounting scenes with others. This makes things disjointed at times and a bit haphazard and while I at first was interested in having a different layout, I found it not working so well. There are also flashbacks from the past which interrupts the flow at times.
There is a twist towards the end of the book, that while clever and very unique, made this even messier in my eyes. I think just because of one of the characters more than the twist itself, but unfortunately felt like this was the final reason why I just didn’t really like the book.
Again, I’d overall recommend this author and I do felt the book itself was unique with some of the plots points. I just feel that it could have been done a bit better.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc.
Synopsis: Charlie Jones has landed on the island to embark on her brand new life. As the manager at Ormer's only farm shop, this job will be her perfect next chapter. Good riddance to the mainland, this is it - fresh air, and a clean slate.
Except there is one small issue ...
Charlie Jones has also just arrived on the Isle of Ormer, to embark on his brand new life. His job at the farm shop feels like fate, and could not have come at a better moment. On Ormer, Charlie has promised himself he'll escape old friends, bad habits and heartbreak.
This second chance is the best thing that could have happened to Charlie . . . and Charlie.
That is, until they are introduced . . .