The NAME GAME follows two people, Oliver and Ormer, who both have a Charlie Jones in their lives. Charlie's role in their lives is different, though the reasons are eerily common for her to be in their lives. We follow Oliver and Aspen, who are almost strangers to each other accept a job on an island with a population of 500. They both head to Ormer Island to be the manager of the island's one and only farm shop. Right from the moment they step off the ferry, their name unwinds a chaos for one and all on the island. Expecting only one person to take up the job means everyone is in a tizzy, and it all peaks when the two people find there’s accommodation and a job for one of them.

Soon, deals and compromises are made. They share a house, job and keep butting heads and egos until a truce is made and things all around settle. This goes on for almost 70% of the book, just when we think it's only a matter of time, it's revealed what the mix-up was behind both of them being here for the same job, and there's a twist. A twist that feels abrupt and once again creates a tizzy amongst all.

So, the understory is completely different, and it is the assumed name to which it's related; the name that both Oliver and Aspen use to gain the job. If things are unclear or tad confusing to you so far, I am sure you will understand, as this is what I felt while reading the book. All was fine when I felt there's only the name confusion to be sorted out; however, it is the name that is a mystery, which should have been highlighted earlier on the story or at least introduced. The mystery coming in at the time it comes in the book felt very disjointed and unexpected, as it is not a mystery book we are reading. Now, I have read the author's debut and one other book. I liked only the debut, and the other one was a miss.

I would emphasize that the fans of Beth O'Leary will like it for their own reasons. The good part of the story for me is the island it's set on and the glimpses of the islanders. The rest is not for me; it wasn't a very happy reading time, though the island kept me on the page and the will to not leave a book unfinished.