Book Review: The Name Game

By Sara Steven

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 fresh start.

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? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Did anyone else who’d read The Name Game want to move to the Isle of Ormer after reading about it? I sure did! I loved the story, the premise, and the budding relationship that blooms between the two Charlies, but I absolutely adored the Isle of Ormer. The small-town life and quirky characters that inhabit it filled me with peace and tranquility. 

However, the two Charlies are anything but the peace and tranquility that the town is known for. Charlie and Jones (our male Charlie) have secrets that have driven them to attempt to start over in life, applying for the same job in the same town–and coincidentally having the same exact name to boot. Neither one has much experience as a manager, let alone in a farm shop, but they are willing to do what it takes to distance themselves from their troubled pasts. 

The town holds secrets, too. It’s no coincidence that two people with the same exact name had been hired at the farm shop, but the question is: why? When that revelation finally presents itself, I can honestly say that I didn’t see it coming. And when the truth behind the Charlies comes to light, too, it was one of the biggest surprises of all. I appreciated the plot twist in what would ordinarily feel like mere contemporary romance. Really, this was contemporary romance, WITH a twist. 

There is a lot of healing that needs to be accomplished by both Charlies, and it was sweet how much they leaned on one another without knowing the struggles the other one faces. For much of the book Jones appeared to be aloof and distant, really keeping to himself as much as possible to avoid letting anyone else get to know him. And Charlie puts on a brave face despite any awkwardness or uncomfortableness she might be feeling, in an effort to never really let anyone know the truth behind her emotional pain. As the chapters progress, both characters learn that owning who they really are deep down can bring freedom and release, with the help of some unexpected friends from a town that feels like home. This reader could feel that kinship, which only made The Name Game that more endearing. It was a sweet experience!

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Beth O'Leary:
Swept Away
The Road Trip
The Wake-Up Call

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Spotlight and Giveaway: The Midnight Show

Today we are excited to feature Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne's latest novel, The Midnight Show! This novel is perfect for fans of Saturday Night Live and/or Cold Case. It sounds fascinating and has been receiving high praise. Thanks to Crown Publishing, we have THREE copies for some lucky readers!

In the 1980s, women were not supposed to be funny. But when a group of college improv comedians gets the chance to join a new late-night show, it’s Lillian Martin who stands out. The new show was called The Midnight Show and it would air every Friday night, live from New York, and change the landscape of TV and comedy forever.

But first it would change Lillian’s and her friends’ lives. When the show becomes a runaway hit, the cast is thrown into the spotlight. Suddenly, they’re skipping the line at the city’s hottest clubs and posing on the cover of Rolling Stone. Lillian, in particular, seems destined for bigger things—until one winter night in Lower Manhattan, she vanishes, leaving nothing behind but questions. Was Lillian a victim of her own excesses? Was it a mugging gone wrong? Or could she have been killed by someone in her own inner circle?

Forty years later, Lillian’s disappearance has still never been solved. But when a budding journalist looking to examine Lillian’s story from a modern lens begins asking questions, she stirs up decades-old drama—as well as tightly-held secrets some comedy legends would much rather stay buried.

A propulsive story of fame and friendship told through a variety of media—compiled interviews, articles, transcripts—The Midnight Show takes readers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of comedy in 1980s New York and asks if the rush of getting a laugh is all it’s cracked up to be.

“The Midnight Show is an utterly addictive read—I couldn’t stop thinking about it once I started. Kelly and Thorne expertly capture the cutthroat world of late-night comedy in juicy, hilarious detail, with special attention to the women at the center of it all. I loved it!”
—Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author of Listen for the Lie

“Dark, dazzling, and impossible to put down, The Midnight Show captures the high-wire world of live TV and the secrets festering just offstage. With inventive storytelling and characters that feel achingly real, it plunges us into 1980s New York with all its glitter, gossip, grime, and glory and a mystery that refuses to stay buried—an absolute knockout.”
—Chandler Baker, screenwriter and New York Times bestselling author of The Husbands

“A brilliant, electric ride. Reading The Midnight Show feels like being backstage at the birth of Saturday Night Live—complete with swagger, secrets, and the thrill of live TV. Nostalgic, razor sharp, and full of twists I never saw coming. Kelly and Thorne are at the top of their game with this one.”
—Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Guest in Room 120

Photo by Lee
and Jennifer

Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne are the co-authors of the novels The Antiquity Affair, The Starlets, My Fair Frauds, and The Midnight Show. Independently, Kelly is the author of the acclaimed speculative fiction novels City of Savages, A Criminal Magic, and With Regrets. Thorne is the USA Today bestselling author of Diavola, Lute, and the forthcoming Newbourne Park, as well as several books for younger readers.

Visit the authors online:
Lee's website * Lee's Instagram
Jennifer's website * Jennifer's Instagram

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends April 12th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: What We Will Become

By Melissa Amster

A mother’s memoir of her transgender child’s odyssey, and her journey outside the boundaries of the faith and culture that shaped her.

From the age of two-and-a-half, Jacob, born “Em,” adamantly told his family he was a boy. While his mother Mimi struggled to understand and come to terms with the fact that her child may be transgender, she experienced a sense of déjà vu—the journey to uncover the source of her child’s inner turmoil unearthed ghosts from Mimi’s past and her own struggle to live an authentic life.

Mimi was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, every aspect of her life dictated by ancient rules and her role as a woman largely preordained from cradle to grave. As a young woman, Mimi wrestled with the demands of her faith and eventually made the painful decision to leave her religious community and the strict gender roles it upheld.

Having risen from the ashes of her former life, Mimi was prepared to help her son forge a new one — at a time when there was little consensus on how best to help young transgender children. Dual narratives of faith and motherhood weave together to form a heartfelt portrait of an unforgettable family. Brimming with love and courage, What We Will Become is a powerful testament to how painful events from the past can be redeemed to give us hope for the future. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

A friend recently recommended What We Will Become to me and I'm so glad they did. I never would have heard of it otherwise, but it was such a great read that I am thankful I had the opportunity to check it out. 

Mimi and I have some things in common. Although our paths of Jewish observance went in opposite directions, there are definitely still things we can identify and connect about. We were born in the same year, pretty close in time to each other. (I'm exactly one month older.) We both live on the east coast and have three kids (she has two girls and a boy and I have two boys and a girl). We had our kids close in time and the name she used for her middle child (until he changed it) was the same as my middle child's name. Having said all this, Mimi was easily relatable and I feel like we would hit it off if we ever met in person.

This captivating memoir goes back and forth in time until Mimi catches up to the present. Mimi talks about her Orthodox Jewish upbringing and her challenging family structure. She takes us through her teen years and her time studying Judaism abroad. Then she goes into what leads her to leave her family and observance behind and move on to a different life that is in opposition to her mom's dreams for her. Meanwhile, she talks about her middle child, who believes they are a boy born into the wrong body, even at a very young age. This leads to a lot of challenging behaviors from her toddler and Mimi tries to work through everything until she realizes what truly needs to be done to make her child happy. 

I highly recommend What We Will Become! It's relevant to what is going on in the present. While it was published in 2019, I'd love a follow-up to see what Mimi's son is up to now and how things are going for him with all the anti-trans sentiment and laws taking place in our country. While I can't relate to Mimi's situation directly, there is an understanding that we have in common, about wanting to make the world a better place for our kids when things might not be as easy or cookie-cutter for them. Fans of Unorthodox (reviewed here) will also appreciate this book.

Oddly enough, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across an article about a singer my children grew up listening to. I love that she is supportive of children who are transgender!

Side note: I found it funny that Honey Badger was mentioned a few times, as my husband and I used to joke about those videos a lot. He even got me a Honey Badger shirt around the time the videos were popular. My husband is reading this book now and he was amused by the reference too.

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Reviews at Amazon: January - March 2026

We're posting some reviews at our Amazon (or Goodreads) accounts, as either they've been sitting in our queue for a while and deserve their time in the sun, fall under our featuring policy, or they're new reads that we couldn't wait to post at the blog. You can check them out at the links below. Hope we can help you find your next favorite book!

Jami:

Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward

Melissa:

Merry and Bright by Ali Rosen

The Voice I Just Heard by Susan Dormady Eisenberg

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay

Dog Person by Camille Pagan (enter to win a copy through April 5th!)

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

That's What Friends are For by Wade Rouse

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica

My list is shorter because I've been reviewing a lot more at the blog lately. However, I have more to share on Goodreads/Amazon soon, so be on the lookout for those posts!

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Book Review: In Too Deep

By Sara Steven

Maya Darlington-Hume is the life of the party, used to turning heads—and getting her way. But behind the champagne and charm is a woman chasing something real, especially from the one man who’s never taken her her father. So when she discovers the gorgeous stranger who caught her mid-bath is actually her father’s business partner—and her new boss—Maya decides to have a little fun.

Benedict Chivers has worked hard to get where he is, and he’s not about to risk it all for a fling. Especially not with his investor’s irresistible daughter. But Maya is hard to ignore… and even harder to resist.

Their connection is electric, their chemistry off the charts—but with so much at stake falling into bed might be the easy part. Staying out of trouble? That’s another story. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

From the very first line, I knew I was in trouble–in a good way. The first chapter showcases how Benedict finds Maya in a bit of a compromising position, which ends up not being too compromising for either of them, even though Benedict wants it to appear that way. For him, getting into bed with Maya (personally or professionally) could be problematic, and he knows the best decision would be to keep her at arm’s length. 

Maya has other ideas. She’s spent most of her life in her dad’s shadow, having to deal with the judgement that often comes from being the daughter of a powerful man. No one takes her seriously, assuming she has everything handed to her, with no need to work for what she wants. I think it makes her work that much harder–even when it comes to matters of the heart. She knows Benedict should be off limits, but the type of connection they share is all too powerful, despite what she knows is best. 

This is an "opposite sides of the track" story; Benedict is a self-made man, while Maya comes from a background of influence. Yet they both manage to meet in the middle, learning from one another, discovering that the opinions they had don’t really matter, and aren’t really true, anyway. Maya wants to break away from her father and make a name for herself, and Benedict has a lot more to offer than just his business. They are a lot more than where they came from. 

The biggest obstacle is facing Maya’s father. Sprinkled throughout In Too Deep are very spicy scenes between the two main characters that could make anyone blush; it reminded me a bit of the movie Secretary–maybe not the exact type of content, but definitely the same sentiment. It made for a very engaging reading experience that kept me on my toes.

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Apple * Kobo

Christy McKellen is a best selling, award-nominated British writer of spicy, pacy, emotionally charged contemporary romances and rom-coms, featuring strong, determined heroines and irresistible alpha heroes. 

Best known for her enemies to lovers, opposites attract, holiday and workplace romances, Christy sets her books in the glamorous worlds of film, media, and the arts, where forced proximity and undeniable chemistry lead to steamy love stories full of passion, tension, and emotional depth.

Formerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time (when she’s not writing) walking for pleasure and researching other people's deepest secrets and desires.

Visit Christy online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Sign up for Christy's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Christy's blog tour:

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Camille Pagán has us begging for more...plus a book giveaway

 

Credit: Liv in the Moment
Photography

We're excited to have Camille Pagán back at CLC today to talk about her latest novel, Dog Person, which will be available next week! Melissa enjoys Camille's novels and says that Dog Person is one of her best. Check out her review. We enjoyed chatting with Camille and hope you will have fun reading our interview. Thanks to Random House, we have one copy to give away!

Camille Pagán is the bestselling author of numerous novels about love and life’s what-ifs, including Good for You and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. She has written for The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, Time, and many others. When she’s not working on her next story, you’ll find Camille talking shop with writers, hanging out with her two kids, or trying to convince her husband they should adopt yet another animal. She and her family live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spend as much time in Puerto Rico as possible.

Visit Camille online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Harold may be an aging mutt—but Amelia May, the romance novelist who adopted him, taught him a thing or two about the human heart before she died. And she left Harold with a final task: to help her partner, Miguel, find love again.

Trouble is, the grief-ridden recluse rarely goes out, not even to the bookstore he and Amelia owned together. Now it’s in danger of going under, and when a renowned author doesn’t show up for his event, it pushes the store’s already precarious finances into the red. In a final attempt to save the bookstore, Miguel and Harold set out to find the no-show and insist he fulfill his obligation. But instead they’re greeted by Fiona, his sunny yet secretive sister.

Fiona is intent on protecting her brother’s privacy—and to Harold’s horror, she doesn’t like dogs. But her precocious eleven-year-old daughter, who’s also named Amelia, immediately befriends Harold . . . and he can’t help but wonder if his Amelia was right when she said there are no coincidences in life.

Harold is quickly running out of time to accomplish his mission, but if he can just convince his infuriatingly stubborn person to let Fiona in, he’s certain Miguel will find something far more important than a missing author: his own happy ending.

Uplifting, smartly observed, and hilariously insightful, Dog Person is as undeniably charming as its beloved narrator, Harold, and offers a much-needed reminder that while not all love is unconditional, it is still always worthwhile. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“Tender, heartwarming and true, Dog Person captures the devoted, unconditional love of a dog for their human and a human for their dog, and all the ways that love can both break us apart and put us back together.”

—Allison Winn Scotch, New York Times bestselling author of The Rewind

“Not since A Dog’s Purpose have I been so besotted by a novel’s canine. Just like a good dog, Harold and this beautiful book will break your heart open and mend it all at once.”

—Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of Jane and Dan at the End of the World

“Dog Person by Camille Pagán broke me in the best possible way. It’s a story that understands that a happy ending can hold sadness, too, and that moving on isn’t the same as letting go. Harold is an incredible narrator—tender, sharp, and unforgettable—the best animal voice since Marcellus the octopus in Remarkably Bright Creatures. A beautiful reminder that broken hearts can learn to love again.”

—Ali Brady, USA Today bestselling author of Battle of the Bookstores

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
My favorite compliment will always be, “I read your book at the exact right time.” There’s nothing better than finding a story that speaks to whatever you’re currently going through in life. Honestly, that’s why I write. 
 
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Dog Person? 
The biggest challenge was the ultimate reward—which was tapping into the psyche of a dog (to the best of my very human ability!) to explore how love helps us recover from loss. I wrote this novel after losing someone very close to me, and that was such a healing experience. 
 
If Dog Person was made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
A lot of Noah Kahan; I listened to "Forever" on repeat as I was writing and editing Dog Person. Throw in a little Julieta Venegas, Etta James’ "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and you’ve got the perfect mood music for my novel.  
 
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend? 
The Life List, which was adapted from Lori Nelson Spielman’s novel. Lori’s an old writing friend of mine—we’re actually doing an event together in April—and it was such a thrill to see her wonderful, heartwarming story on the big screen in a way that truly did it justice.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
If you’re giving me a choice, I’m going to have to pick Cher! She has that perfect mix of sarcasm and warmth that reflects my writing … and yes, the way I look at life. 
 
If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I’m at my desk in Ann Arbor as I write this, so I’d take you over to one of my favorite local indie bookstores, Literati. Then we’d go have an amazing sandwich at Zingerman’s deli and drinks at York, which is where you’ll usually find me with friends on a Friday evening. 

Thanks to Camille for visiting with us and to Random House for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends April 5th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: The Last Woman of Warsaw

By Jami Denison

Jews murdered at synagogues and festivals. Jewish students harassed in schools and universities. Jewish businesses boycotted. Jewish customers kicked out of stores and restaurants. Jews being put on lists. Jews wondering if it’s time to leave their country. 1930s Germany? No. It’s happening now in Western democracies. Antisemitism has always been an early warning sign that something is really wrong in a nation. Countries that harm their Jewish population often go onto deeper horrors.

Non-fiction author Judy Batalion paints a picture of pre-World War II Poland in her debut novel, The Last Woman of Warsaw. Two young Jewish women struggle for independence as the clouds of antisemitism gather. Will they be able to protect themselves before it’s too late?

It’s 1938, and Fanny Zelshinsky, only daughter of a rich divorcee, is newly engaged. But she cares more about changing her college major from French to fine arts, and entering a photography show that would showcase her fashion photos. When her favorite professor Wanda Petrovsky disappears before she can approve Fanny’s transfer, Fanny becomes desperate to find her.

Grocer’s daughter Zosia Dror has left her shtetl for Warsaw in hopes of securing a visa to move to British Mandate for Palestine and play a part in securing the Jewish homeland there. But when the movement’s leader, Wanda Petrovsky, disappears, Zosia is torn between staying in Warsaw, returning to her family, or finding another way to create Eretz Israel. 

The women are polar opposites—Fanny fearless and outspoken, Zosia insecure and doubtful—and at first they clash as they seek to find Wanda. But as they keep running into each other, eventually they realize they’ll need each other to help their mentor—and for whatever else is coming. 

The Last Woman of Warsaw is unlike most books of the time period, which emphasize the danger the Jews are facing and usually conclude after the end of World War II. This novel is a slow burn, and Fanny in particular is so consumed with her photography and wanting to avoid her marriage that she barely notices the storm clouds. And while Zosia realizes danger is in the air, she’s so caught up in the politics of the movement—trying to figure out who’s really working to create a Jewish homeland and who only wants a ticket to Tel Aviv—and her crush on a co-worker that she’s not on high alert.

The city of Warsaw itself is also a character, teeming with art and fashion and positioning itself as the Paris of eastern Europe. Its Jews make up a hefty percentage of its citizens, and they work in important professions as financiers, university professors, lawyers. Jewish leaders are well aware of Hitler and his threats, but they don’t believe anything like that could happen in a place like Warsaw. 

Some chapters were a bit too “inside baseball” for me—I don’t know enough about the difference between socialism and communism to follow those debates—and at times, the dialogue was a bit preachy and unrealistic. But overall, the author sends a very powerful message about people who happen to be Jewish trying to live their lives while dark forces assemble against them.

In the 1930s and 40s, European Jews watched as waves of antisemitism crashed over their countries. The lucky ones got out early; others were trapped by quotas and murdered in concentration camps. After the war, Jews were left homeless and stateless until the founding of Israel. And now, two and a half years after Hamas attacked Israel, Jews around the world are again wondering if their countries are too dangerous for them to stay. Ironically, Israel, which has been almost under perpetual attack since its founding, may be the safest place for them to go. 

If it could happen in Warsaw in 1939, it could happen in London in 2026. 

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Judy Batalion:

The Light of Days

White Walls

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