The name game by Beth O'Leary
The name game is Sunday Times Hampshire-based bestselling author Beth O'Leary's latest novel following the bestsellers The switch, The road trip and The no_show. These novels followed O'Leary's debut novel The flatshare which is now a major TV series. The name game is about second chances, new beginnings and love finding us in the most unexpected places - themes which play into many a romance novel that inspire and give hope and dreams to many a reader.
The name game is set on the Isle of Ormer, population 500 (before our two main characters arrive). Ormer is a fictional remote English Channel island accessible by ferry and home to a tight farming community of people who are only reluctantly and recently opening up to tourists (mostly day trippers). A map of the island marking the main features included in the story is featured in the front pages. In an Author's note, O'Leary tells us that Ormer is inspired by the Isle of Sark with La Coupee being the inspiration for Windward Ridge and the Avenue for the Rue. Like her characters, O'Leary and her husband were drawn to the island via a job ad.
The narrative is delivered from dual perspectives including one in the form of a diary with entries written by the female Charlie Jones and the second in serial email to himself form written by the male Charlie Jones. Through the diary and the emails, the reader gleans the innermost thoughts of both characters. The diary/email narrative follows their lives on the island from day one - Friday 25th August 2025 to Sunday 5th October 2025 and then changes to omniscient author format with a jump of five years which functions here as an authorial procedural choice for moving ahead in order to look back over a chunk of elapsed time. The initial couple of months on the island - the crucial beginning and sorting out of complexities is concluded and the reader is then treated to knowing what happened. O'Leary made the choice to give the reader an ending. She may have chosen not to but I think she is too much of a romantic to leave readers guessing.
The name game is a thoroughly contemporary novel full of contemporary dialogue, issues (including and not limited to alcohol abuse, relationship breakdown, same sex attraction and IVF) and dilemmas. Both main characters are starting new lives. Both are called Charlie Jones or are they! Both are vying for the same job as manager of the island's farm shop, both are given time to prove themselves. In one way it is stunningly predictable but there are back stories and overlapping pasts and deep secrets everywhere. Can there be a happy ever after?
The plot line with its multiple intricacies becomes very confusing. The narrative voices, to this reader, were not sufficiently individual to be easily differentiated at all times. Perhaps the book would lend itself better to an audio edition so that the male and female Charlie Jones are easily discernible. The reader must stay sharply on track to avoid confusion. A slow reveal of the inner demons of both characters (and others) progresses and attraction versus mistrust battle it out. The past is slowly revealed.
Lovers of the light, up lifting romance genre, of authors such as Rosie Walsh and Paige Toon will enjoy The name game. Ultimately it is a life affirming, comforting and inspiring love story especially for anyone who has been through relationship breakdown and/or has battled mental illness and/or addictions which have impacted their relationships. There is much common sense wisdom that can be accessed through this story.
Themes: Second chance romance, Secluded island life, Stolen identity, Anxiety/depression, Alcoholism, Family, Relationships.
Wendy Jeffrey