Week Thirty-One: By Any Other Name

***This is a review of an upcoming release. This title is scheduled to be released on May 3, 2022.***

I like books. I like writing. I like books about writing, and books about books. So, I was predisposed to really like this book.

What she doesn't know about love could fill a book.
 
With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie's more than good. She's killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa's writer's block and she'll get the promotion she's always dreamed of. Simple, right? 
 
But there's a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Namecan still be as sweet.

This is a tricky book to review without giving away spoilers. Let’s say that Lanie has idolized author Noa Calloway for her entire professional career. She has worked side-by-side with Noa’s editor, and has become friendly with Noa. Quirky Noa, however, is basically a hermit, and while Lanie’s boss has met the recluse, Lanie has not.

Until Lanie’s boss decides not to return from maternity leave, and Lanie herself is assigned to Noa’s latest book release.

Once they meet, however, Lanie is shocked to find that Noa is *nothing* like she thought.

However, Noa has some pretty serious deadlines looming, and some pretty serious writer’s block, so Lanie has to dig in despite her personal feelings and help get the book finished. She does this by taking Noa on a series of outings in the city, trying to inspire the author to a happy ending.

That things then get complicated is…expected.

What is less expected is the warmth that this book brings, both to their friendship, and to Lanie’s relationship with her family. The book just…it just feels good from beginning to end. And even when Noa and Lanie are the most angry with each other, the friendship that they had built over email over the last few years still comes through.

So, ultimately, this is a novel about friends who become enemies who become friends who become more.

My only real complaint about the book was its very abrupt ending. Never has a book needed an epilogue so badly!

Overall, though, a very charming story which I would recommend highly to readers of light romance.